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Important update: Healthcare facilities
CDC has updated select ways to operate healthcare systems effectively in response to COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more
UPDATE
Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the guidance for fully vaccinated people. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.
UPDATE
The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. More information is available here.
UPDATE
Travel requirements to enter the United States are changing, starting November 8, 2021. More information is available here.

People Who Live in a Nursing Home or Long-Term Care Facility

People Who Live in a Nursing Home or Long-Term Care Facility
Updated Sept. 11, 2020
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Vaccine Information for People Who Live in a Nursing Home or Long-Term Care Facility.

elderly people highlighted in banner of numerous people

Caretakers: If your loved one is not able to ask questions or otherwise communicate with facility staff, please help them take the actions recommended on this page.

Many cases of COVID-19 in the United States have occurred among older adults living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

Actions to take

  • Carefully follow your facility’s instructions for infection prevention.
  • Notify staff right away if you feel sick.
  • Ask your caretakers about the actions that are being taken at your nursing home or long-term care facility to protect you and your loved ones, including if and how they are limiting visitors.

Symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild symptoms to severe illness, sometimes resulting in death. Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure.

In some cases, older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions may have symptoms that are not typically seen in others, or they may take longer than others to develop fever and other symptoms.

Fever symptoms

In older adults, normal body temperature can be lower than in younger adults. For this reason, fever temperatures can also be lower in older adults.

If you are an older adult experiencing fever or other symptoms and want to get tested, call your healthcare provider first. You can also visit your state or localexternal icon health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.

If you are caring for a patient aged 65 or older, be aware that a single reading higher than 100°F (37.8°C), multiple readings above 99°F (37.2°C), or a rise in temperature greater than 2°F (1.1°C) above the patient’s normal (baseline) temperature may be a sign of infection.

Why you might be at increased risk

The communal nature of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and the population served (generally older adults often with underlying medical conditions), put those living in nursing homes at increased risk of infection and severe illness from COVID-19.

If you are a healthcare provider

If you are a healthcare provider in a nursing home or long-term care facility, make sure to take additional precautions for yourself and the older adults in your care. Viral testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is an important addition to other infection prevention and control practices.

Learn more about CDC’s guidance for nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

More Information