LITTLE ROCK -- Multiple COVID-19 indicators are trending in a positive direction at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, prompting it to move from emergency operations to recovery operations, according to a recent news release.
The overall goal is to reach pre-COVID daily operations in all clinical and administrative areas by Nov. 1, the release said.
Beginning today, CAVHS' visitation restrictions will drop from High Alert level to Elevated Alert level. Visitation will be limited to veterans with scheduled appointments, procedures or essential business that cannot be handled any other way, including virtually. One caregiver or family member older than 18 years old may accompany the Veteran. One to two visitors older than 18 may be allowed on the Palliative Care unit at a time.
"Service animals may continue to accompany a Veteran into our facilities. The Veteran must be able to maintain control and care for the animal, and one caregiver or family member over 18 may accompany the Veteran to take care of the animal while the Veteran is in a restricted or procedural area," the release said.
FDA-approved face masks will still be required and will be provided at entrances for those needing a mask.
"Inpatient COVID-19 cases have dropped to a census of about eight per day with no patient currently on ventilator. We currently are hosting one non-Veteran patient as part of the VA's Fourth Mission. More than 55,000 enrolled Veterans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination," the release said.
CAVHS is currently offering Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shots to people 65 years and older, people 50-64 and 18-49 with underlying medical conditions, and people 18-64 who are at increased risk for virus exposure and transmission, it said.