After a year of a partial shutdown in Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt and Health Commissioner Lance Frye said last week that an easing of the Chinese coronavirus pandemic will allow a relaxation for visitation to long-term care facilities.

The state is updating its visitation guidelines to allow visitors who have completed state-certified essential care training to visit their loved ones. Oklahoma closed visitation to long-term care facilities in mid-March 2020 to protect Oklahomans who were most at risk of serious illness.

Since then, Oklahoma has been active in coronavirus vaccine distribution, with per capita vaccine distribution rates regularly in the top 10 in the nation. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that as of Feb. 14, weekly new deaths among nursing home residents have decreased 83% since vaccination efforts began in December.

“At the onset of the pandemic, we reviewed the emerging data on COVID-19, and we knew elderly Oklahomans and those with comorbidities were at high risk in our long-term care centers. I firmly believe that our decision to close these facilities to visitors early saved lives,” said Stitt. “Isolation and depression are a very real threat for Oklahomans who have been separated from their loved ones by COVID-19. Now, with vaccinations being carried out at long term care centers across the state and case levels on the decline, we believe families can now safely see their loved ones.”

The updated guidelines state that long-term care and assisted living centers may allow each resident to designate one or more essential caregivers who may make in-person visits. These visitors must complete state training to become essential caregivers, which will be made available online and should not take more than 15 minutes to complete.

“This new guidance is life-altering for Oklahomans living in long-term care centers and their family members who have been separated for so long,” said Deputy Commissioner of Health Innovation Travis Kirkpatrick. “This significant change will ensure the safety of residents, staff and family members and continues our ongoing efforts to adjust our state guidance based on the realities on the ground here in Oklahoma. We urge all long term care centers to follow these new guidelines.”

Visitors who complete the training will still need to follow a number of guidelines:

If both the resident and visitor are vaccinated; 

• A mask is required and proof of vaccination completion must be provided for both to have non-supervised contact.

If either the resident or visitor is not vaccinated; 

• A mask is required and proof of a negative COVID-19 test or onsite test may be required for both to have non-supervised contact.

If neither the resident nor visitor are vaccinated.

 A mask is required and proof of a negative COVID-19 test or onsite test may be required for both to have a supervised, no-contact visit.   OSDH is also providing long-term care facilities with the necessary PPE to keep both residents and visitors safe and access to rapid COVID-19 tests.

“I do want to remind Oklahomans that despite recent updated guidance from the CDC for those who have been vaccinated, if you’re visiting a long term-care center it’s still important to follow the masking guidelines outlined above out of an abundance of caution,” said Frye.