Local long-term care facilities start steps toward reopening

Local long-term care facilities have started a three-phase process to reopen their doors to public visits, according to County Public Health Director Krista Vanden Brink.

The three phases are:

1) Long-term care facilities are closed to the public.

2) Base-line testing and increased movement of people within the homes is introduced.

3) Long-term care facilities open and general public can visit.

All local nursing homes are currently in Phase 1 but movement to Phase 2 "could happen as quickly as in the next few weeks," says Vanden Brink.