Visitor Restriction Emergency Order Remains in Place

 

On March 15, 2020, the Division of Emergency Management issued Emergency Order No. 20-006, prohibiting all visitation at facilities in Florida, except in very specific circumstances. This Emergency Order does not expire until May 8, 2020, as its effective date corresponds with the effective dates of Executive Order 20-52. Restrictions listed in the Emergency Order continue to remain in place, and the Agency requests that family, friends and representatives of residents are advised accordingly.  

The full Emergency Order is available here: https://ahca.myflorida.com/docs/DEM_ORDER_NO.20-006_In_re_COVID-19_Public_Health_Emergency_Issued_March_15_2020.pdf.

The order applies as follows:

• Every facility must prohibit the entry of any individual, to the facility except in the following circumstances:
  • Family members, friends, and visiting residents in end-of-life situations;
  • Hospice or palliative care workers caring for residents in end-of-life situations;
  • Any individuals providing necessary health care to a resident;
  • Facility staff;
  • Facility residents;
  • Attorneys of Record for a resident in an Adult Mental Health and Treatment Facility for court related matters if virtual or telephonic means are unavailable; or
  • Representatives of the federal or state government seeking entry as part of their official duties, including, but not limited to, Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, representatives of the Department of Children and Families, the Department ofHealth, the Department of Elderly Affairs, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Agency for Persons with

Disabilities, a protection and advocacy organization under 42 U.S.C.§15041, the Office of the Attorney General, any law enforcement officer, and any emergency medical personnel.

• Individuals seeking entry to the facility under the above section I will not be allowed to enter if they meet any of the screening criteria listed below:
  • Any person infected with COVID-19 who has not had two consecutive negative test results separated by 24 hours;
  • Any person showing, presenting signs or symptoms of, or disclosing the presence of a respiratory infection, including cough, fever, shortness of breath or sore throat;
  • Any person who has been in contact with any person(s) known to be infected with COVID-19, who has not yet tested negative for COVID-19 within the past 14 days;
  • Any person who traveled through any airport within the past 14 days; or
  • Any person who traveled on a cruise ship within the past 14 days.
• Residents must be discouraged from leaving the facility.
• The following documentation must be kept for visitation within a facility:
  • Individuals entering a facility subject to the screening criteria above may be screened using a standardized questionnaire or other form of documentation.
  • The facility is required to maintain documentation of all non-resident individuals entering the facility. Documentation must include:
    • Name of the individual;
    • Date and time of entry; and
    • The documentation used by the facility to screen the individual showing the individual did not meet any of the enumerated screening criteria, including the screening employee’s printed name and signature.

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