UPDATE: Lee issues order to allow nursing home, long-term care center patients with new stricter guidelines

Tennessee nursing homes and long-term care centers have been on virtual lockdown since the start of the COVID pandemic. In some cases, those patients haven’t seen loved ones since March.

Governor Bill Lee has issued an executive order to allow limited visitation for guests at those facilities beginning Monday. He said some centers may need extended time to prepare for new stricter guidelines the state has in store with these openings.

The visits can be either outdoor with proper social distancing, indoors with precautionary plexiglass barrier booth, and in-room visits with special procedures.

State Health Secretary Dr. Lisa Piercey says this is a type of medicine that can’t be replaced with a resident in care.

“…And I do acknowledge that these are quite restrictive but that’s okay because we need to be able to do everything we can this most vulnerable population while allowing for their social and emotional well being,” she said at Wednesday’s news conference in Nashville. 

(PHOTO: Unsplash)