Commonwealth Attorney, family talking to lawmakers about changes they say are needed

ROANOKE, Va. – For the first time in months, federal health officials are easing COVID-19 restrictions for nursing homes and long-term care facilities in their latest guidelines that say it is OK to allow indoor visits. Officials say moving forward, they are recommending indoor visits at all times, regardless of people’s vaccination status. This allows thousands of families torn apart by the pandemic to reunite for the first time without barriers. There are currently 4 outbreaks at area facilities that have resulted in five deaths, according to the Virginia Department of Health. For more information about Virginia’s efforts to support long-term care facilities, please visit the Virginia Long-Term Care Task Force website.

No assisted living residents have tested positive. He shared with 10 News that no patients have tested positive at their facility as of Wednesday. Fifty-nine have tested positive since the pandemic began. “They’ll vaccinate staff members. They’ll vaccinate residents.

[Which Virginia nursing homes have coronavirus outbreaks? Republicans blasted Northam, saying he had the legal authority to release the names of the nursing homes much earlier. The Virginia data released Friday shows current outbreaks at about 70 long-term care facilities and indicates seven facilities have had 25 or more coronavirus-related deaths. There have been about 1,000 deaths at long-term care facilities in Virginia, accounting for about 60% of the state's total virus-related deaths, according to state data. The Virginia Health Care Association-Virginia Center for Assisted Living, a trade group representing nursing homes, said the newly released data highlights the disproportionate impact the virus has had on long-term care facilities.

ROANOKE, Va. – Starting Friday, the Virginia Department of Health became more transparent about coronavirus cases within nursing homes, assisted living and multi-care facilities. The data reported below is from the Virginia Outbreak Surveillance System (VOSS) and the Virginia Electronic Disease Surveillance System (VEDSS). VDH reports that as of June 19, there are at total of 230 COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities. The chart, which organizes facilities by county or city, can be sorted to view either all outbreaks, or just one of three specific categories. Outbreak in Progress - this means there are two or more laboratory-confirmed cases of the illness, with onset dates within one incubation period, which is 14 days.