Notification and Other Requirements for Covid-19 Infections in Personal Care Homes

1. Law
2. Georgia Code
3. Health
4. Regulation and Construction of Hospitals and Other Health Care Facilities
5. Regulation of Hospitals and Related Institutions
6. Notification and Other Requirements for Covid-19 Infections in Personal Care Homes

1. As used in this Code section, the term "COVID-19" means coronavirus disease 2019.
2. Each personal care home with 25 or more beds, each assisted living community, and each nursing home licensed in this state shall:
   1. Inform its residents and their representatives or legal surrogates by 5:00 P.M. the next calendar day following the occurrence of either a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 or another airborne infectious disease identified by the department or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a threat to public health, or three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms occurring within 72 hours of each other. Such information shall:
      1. Not include personally identifiable information;
      2. Include information on mitigating actions implemented to prevent or reduce the risk of transmission, including if normal operations of the facility will be altered; and
      3. Include any cumulative updates for residents and their representatives or legal surrogates at least weekly or by 5:00 P.M. the next calendar day following the occurrence of any subsequent confirmed infection of COVID-19, or whenever three or more residents or staff with new onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours of each other;
   2. Maintain a minimum of a seven-day supply of protective masks, surgical gowns, eye protection, and gloves sufficient to protect all residents and staff;
   3. Maintain and publish for its residents and their representatives or legal surrogates policies and procedures pertaining to infection control and mitigation within their facilities and update such policies and procedures annually; and
   4. As part of the facility's disaster preparedness plan required pursuant to subsection (c) of Code Section 31-7-3 and department rules and regulations, include an epidemic and pandemic plan for influenza and other infectious diseases which conforms to department and federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards that contains the following minimum elements:
      1. Protocols for surveillance and detection of epidemic and pandemic diseases in residents and staff;
      2. A communication plan for sharing information with public health authorities, residents, residents' representatives or their legal surrogates, and staff;
      3. An education and training plan for residents and staff regarding infection control protocols;
      4. An infection control plan that addresses visitation, cohorting measures, sick leave and return-to-work policies, and testing and immunization policies; and
      5. A surge capacity plan that addresses protocols for contingency staffing and supply shortages.

(Code 1981, §31-7-12.5, enacted by Ga. L. 2020, p. 95, § 8/HB 987.)

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