• Number of COVID-19 cases - According to the most recent case count as of today, North Carolina has 3221 cases, which is a 11.8% increase in cases from yesterday (4/6 had 2880 cases). In addition, there are 354 currently hospitalized (31% increase from yesterday) and there have been 46 deaths related to the virus and it is now in 90 counties. You can view the number of cases and other date Here.

• Fingerprint for Background Checks Still Available - NCSLA has recently received inquiries from providers looking to hire new employees and are asking whether fingerprint background checks are still available and the answer is YES. Fingerprint background checks are considered an essential government function pursuant to Governor Cooper's Executive Order 121. In addition, guidance has been issued (Click Here), which has been shared with local law enforcement and the Sheriff’s Association that explains the need to make fingerprinting available for essential operations including healthcare operations.  

• NCSLA Upcoming Webinar - Dispelling Myths about COVID-19 - - Don't forget that NCSLA is sponsoring a webinar this Thursday, April 9th at 2 - 3 pm (1 CEU DHSR-Approved) focused on infection prevention in assisted living facilities. Training will be provided by Evelyn Cook, RN, EIC, Associate Director of the Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE). For more information including how to register Click Here. Contact Beth Oakley, NCSLA Director of Education, with questions at beth@ncseniorliving.org.

• (Re-print from earlier communication) The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) updates guidance related to long term care facilities and COVID-19 - Yesterday the Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) sent CDC guidance available Here. The CDC has also provided tools on their website including a checklist for long term care facilities, which can be view/downloaded Here.  As with other information provided by the CDC and CMS, the language is often geared more toward nursing homes, HOWEVER, the information and guidance is still applicable to adult care homes and family care homes and providers should adapt the guidance and tools for their setting. You are strongly encouraged to read all available guidance and use the checklist (Click Here) to ensure your facility is prepared for if and when COVID-19 spreads to your facility. DHSR asks that if your facility needs assistance with understanding this guidance or how to implement it in your facility, please send an email to DHSR.AdultCare.Questions@dhhs.nc.gov .

• (Re-print from earlier communication) Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) Releases New Guidance for Long Term Care Facilities - The DHSR notified NCSLA last evening that they have adopted the latest guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for nursing homes (long term care facilities) to also be used for adult care and family care home providers. The guidance can be viewed/downloaded Here (Note: The guidance document contains links to the referenced materials below, i.e. CDC guidance, etc.) The new guidance addresses five areas:

1. Nursing Homes (long term care facilities including adult and family care homes) should immediately ensure that they are complying with all CMS and CDC guidance related to infection control.
2. As long-term care facilities are a critical part of the healthcare system, and because of the ease of spread in long-term care facilities and the severity of illness that occurs in residents with COVID-19, CMS urges State and local leaders to consider the needs of long-term care facilities with respect to supplies of PPE and COVID-19 tests.
3. Long-term care facilities should immediately implement symptom screening for all
4. Long-term care facilities should ensure all staff are using appropriate PPE when they are interacting with patients and residents, to the extent PPE is available and per CDC guidance on conservation of PPE.
5. To avoid transmission within long-term care facilities, facilities should use separate staffing teams for COVID-19-positive residents to the best of their ability, and work with State and local leaders to designate separate facilities or units within a facility to separate COVID-19 negative residents from COVID-19 positive residents and individuals with unknown COVID-19 status. 

• (Re-print from earlier communication) NC Department of Public Safety (DPS) Issues Guidelines for Allocation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - The DPS, which includes the state Division of Emergency Management and is coordinating the state's response to COVID-19, issued guidance yesterday regarding the allocation of PPE. As NCSLA has previously communicated, supplies of PPE are low and we have learned that North Carolina only received approximately 33% of the PPE they requested from the Federal Government. As a result, the DPS has issued guidelines (Click Here) that show the priority of how the state's supply of PPE will be distributed. The guidelines are divided into three groups with Group 1 being the highest priority. Adult care homes with identified COVID-19 infections are in Group 1 and should receive priority if a request is made for PPE. Because state supplies of PPE are limited, it is highly recommended that providers attempt to obtain their own PPE (resources identified below) since it is possible as the COVD-19 outbreak becomes more severe, the state's supply of PPE will be depleted.

• (Re-print from earlier communication) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) resources - Below are the PPE resources NCSLA is aware. Many of these suppliers are obtaining their PPE from overseas; therefore, it may take up to 2 - 3 weeks for the PPE to arrive after an order has been placed. In addition, many of the suppliers require payment for the PPE prior to submitting order for fulfillment as opposed to invoicing and getting paid at a later date.

• Medical Supply Solutions - Chad Tart, Sales Manager Medical Supply Solution, Email: ctart@medicalss.us

• Intalere - Gross Purchasing Organization has a listing of medical suppliers Click Here

• Go Bright Ideas - According to the supplier, both types of masks are FDA approved. Currently, Production/Delivery time is running 10 to 15 business days and, of course, this can change on a daily basis. Shipping is included in the pricing below to one location. If there is a need to ship to multiple locations, please contact the supplier. Prepayment is required. Supplier contact information is as follows:
• Glenn Rowe, email: glenn@gobrightideas.com
• Phone: 434-260-5250
• Cell 434-906-4179

• NH Med Services - Contact John Quinn at:
• Office: 336-859-0504
• Mobile: 336-859-0504
• Email: john.quinn@nhmedservices.com
• Web: www.nhmedservices.com

• Proforma - Michael S. Prillaman, Proforma Total Print Solutions, 320 Habersham Rd., Ste. 105  •  High Point, NC 27260, office 336.841.5292  •  cell 336.312-0813 michael.prillaman@proforma.com  

• (Re-print from earlier communication) Requesting PPE from the Local Emergency Management Agency - We continue to hear from providers that have run out of or running low on supplies of PPE (masks, gowns, gloves, etc.) that they have contacted their County Emergency Management Agency and have been told the PPE supplies are limited.

• **We encourage members that need PPE to keep checking in with your County Emergency Management Agency on at least a weekly basis to re-emphasize the need for PPE to protect your staff and residents. **

• The COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition for Critical Equipment and Supplies recently provided the following forms (Healthcare Guidance for PPE and PPE Request Process) for providers to use when determining their burn rate of PPE and the request process for PPE. According to the state's Healthcare Coalition for COVID-19, if a long term care facility has a resident with COVID-19 and is at risk of exhausting their supplies of PPE, immediately contact your County Emergency Management Agency, it is imperative that you explicitly communicate this information to the Agency so they can work with their Healthcare Coalition to locate PPE and help get it to your facility.

• (Re-print from earlier communication) Hospital to Post-Acute Care Facility Transfer – COVID-19 Assessment - As many acute care hospitals discharge patients to the post-acute environment, i.e. adult care homes, NCSLA has received calls from adult care providers that are questioning how to assess patients prior to agreeing to admit them in light of COVID-19. NCSLA received a tool (Click Here) that is being used in Florida, which providers, in collaboration with the hospital requesting to discharge the patient, may consider using to help assess and screen patients prior to admitting them into their adult care homes. The tool provides an algorithm, which we believe may be useful to providers.