Or maybe a false negative swab on admission? I volunteered with my state's National Guard to COVID screen today. The only person who actively "fought" me was one of the other testers (a PA student in the National Guard). I could easily see how some false negatives occur. I did it to myself at the end of the day, and can't exactly say that I enjoyed the experience, either. 100% sure I reached the nasopharynx every time EXCEPT when I tested the other screener, so I have to wonder how good her tests were today. These were all healthy workers at a large facility, I can't imagine trying to get the swab in a demented or hypoxic patient.

Outside of quarantining the staff at the facility and doing something like a 6week duty rotation (2 week isolation/4 weeks work) which would be completely impossible and unfeasible, how would you keep this from happening?

Doubtful. He's been there over a month.

Yep. That's definitely from the facility.

For these very high risk groups, there should be no staff crossover with other medical facilities I would think. Definitely no moonlighting, or working between different facilities. And the staff should pretty much self quarantine off duty as much as possible.

I've got a friend who is in charge of physical therapy at a SNF and this exactly describes his worst fear. Every time I hear from him he mentions the lengths they are going to in hopes of preventing a positive case there. So far, so good.
Praying this is your only positive test there.

Asymptomatic spread is a huge problem.

MouthBQ98 said:

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For these very high risk groups, there should be no staff crossover with other medical facilities I would think. Definitely no moonlighting, or working between different facilities. And the staff should pretty much self quarantine off duty as much as possible.

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Would this be feasible? If I'm a low tier, low pay, how could I afford this? Can these facilities afford enough staff to give proper rest and days off?

Marcus Aurelius said:

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We cover a LTAC (long term acute care) unit. These patients are the sickliest of them all. They are people discharged from acute care hospitals who are not ready for home or nursing homes. Many have trachs, on chronic vents, dialysis, wounds etc. Many with unrealistic family expectations.

So there is a patient who tested positive for sars cov-2. They need 2 negative swabs prior to discharge to nursing home. Asymptomatic. Was negative at admit.

Obviously was infected by staff. These units are the highest risk. Has the potential to wipe out many in the LTAC.

We'll see what happens but not good. One my worst fears from the onset of this thing.

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Not a medical pro, so need some translation here. Are the folks in LTAC Covid patients or just regular sick patients already in poor health.

Is the person testing positive but asymptomatic now testing negative? As in a false negative? Could it have been a false positive in first place?

If the LTAC people are covid patients, why would it matter if this asym person was in there with them? And is that even what you are saying? That they plan on admitting the asym in with LTAC? Why if they are asym?

Sorry, I am probably a little dense on some of this, but trying to get clarification.

The LTAC patients are admitted as non COVID. They are screened initially as part of the process. Like SNFs. He was admitted and was COVID negative initially. He was ready for discharge to SNF. So he was COVID swabbed again. Positive.

Marcus Aurelius said:

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The LTAC patients are admitted as non COVID. They are screened initially as part of the process. Like SNFs. He was admitted and was COVID negative initially. He was ready for discharge to SNF. So he was COVID swabbed again. Positive.

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I see. Thank you for replying.

Marcus Aurelius said:

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The LTAC patients are admitted as non COVID. They are screened initially as part of the process. Like SNFs. He was admitted and was COVID negative initially. He was ready for discharge to SNF. So he was COVID swabbed again. Positive.

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This brings up another question that I had today. I was listening to a podcast where they were talking about how flat-footed and ill-prepared nursing homes were for this. (I am assuming a nursing home=SNF). LTACs are set up to provide a more significant level of care but nursing homes aren't. In order for SNFs to be able to care for these folks, wouldn't that require a whole new level of care they were never meant to offer?

If this is a dumb question, just disregard.