The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced Friday visitors will now be allowed at long-term care facilities (LTCF), but only outdoors.
Outdoor visits will be monitored by staff with positive COVID-19 residents restricted from participating in the program.
Visitors must call in advance to schedule a visitation and will be prescreened with the CDC for possible COVID-19 related symptoms. Two guests will be limited under the IDPH plan per resident and must wear face coverings and maintain social distancing during their visit. Visitors exhibiting symptoms cannot participate in the outdoor visits.
Any visitors visiting a facility are restricted from going inside.
LTCF can set a maximum number of visitors per day as well as put time limits on those visits. Maximum limits will be set according to the space allotted outdoors to fill a maximum number of visitors, per facility.
IDPH says visits may take place under a canopy or tent without walls.
