IA Care Homes Could Reopen to Visitors

KIMT News 3's Nick Kruszalnicki shows us what concerns reopening is raising

The time they have the results./// during the pandemic ?

"* it's been hard for families to be apart from their loved ones in long?

"* term care homes.

Many are relying on window visits and skype to keep in touch.

Now iowa governor reynolds is looking to ease those restrictions.

Kimt news 3's nick kruszalnicki is live in mason city with the details of the plan ?

"* nick?

Xxx amy ?

"* no date has been announced yet by the governor ?

"* but the iowa department of public health has released a 13?

"*page document outlining hw care homes can start allowing visitors back in.

The guidelines have a 3 phase approach to reopening for visitors, with the first phase being the most secure and the third phase would allow the most access.

There are still plenty of rules for long?

"*term care homes to abide by ?

"* like a period of 14 days since a covid case was identified and having an adequate supply of p?

"*p?

"*e on hand.

I spoke wi michael davis, the administrator of the i?

"*o?

"* home in mason city.

He says his feelings are mixed when it comes to allowing visitors back in.

Xxx honestly, i feel like it is scary, due to the nature of covid?

"*19, but on the other hand you do see the importance of family members having moments with their loved ones.

Davis also told me even with reopening on the horizon ?

"* their first priority is to protect their residents, who are so vulnerable to coronavirus.

Live in mason city, nick kruszalnicki, kimt news 3./// thank you nick.

According to public health ?

"* more than 1*- hundred people have tested positive for covid?

"*19 in iowa long?

"*term care facilities.

A little more than half have recovered.

Nearly 300 people have died.

Meanwhile in minnesota long?

"*term care facilities... a more than 3?

"* thousand people in long?

"* term care facilities have been infected since the pandemic began.

More than 900 of those patients died.///