ODP Announcement 20-068 provides updated guidance to Community and Life Sharing Home providers about how to apply updated COVID-19 testing guidance and infection control procedure guidance issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH).

DOH has released guidance that is targeted to large congregate-care settings such as skilled nursing facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability, which does not specifically reference Community and Life Sharing Homes. However, some of the guidance provided can be applied to Community and Life Sharing Homes.

When an individual in a Community Home has been potentially exposed to COVID-19 or has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the provider should take immediate action to prevent transmission of COVID-19 to other residents and to staff. At minimum providers should do the following:

• Quarantine residents consistent with PA-HAN-559:
  • Fully vaccinated inpatients and residents in healthcare settings should continue to quarantine following prolonged close contact (within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection, which includes the use of Transmission-Based Precautions for COVID-19 per PA-HAN-524.
    • This is due to limited information about vaccine effectiveness in this population, the higher risk of severe disease and death, and challenges with physical distancing in healthcare settings.
  • Quarantine is no longer recommended for residents who are returning to the home after visitation or hospital stays if they are fully vaccinated and have not had prolonged close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the prior 14 days (i.e., no known exposure to COVID-19).

When a staff person has been potentially exposed to COVID-19 or has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the provider should take immediate action to prevent transmission of COVID-19 to residents and to other staff. At a minimum, providers should do the following:

• Staff should quarantine in accordance with the below guidance:
  • For asymptomatic health care personnel (HCP) with potential exposure to COVID-19, determine work exclusion by following the guidance of PA-HAN-560.
  • For symptomatic HCP with any known exposure to COVID-19, exclude immediately from work and counsel them to seek testing. Follow PA-HAN-535 and PA-HAN-553.
  • For HCP who are asymptomatic, but test positive for COVID-19, follow guidance in PA-HAN-535 and PA-HAN-553.

Please read the updated ODP Announcement 20-068 for the full policy.