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Coping with COVID: New executive order requires COVID-19 testing in Kansas adult care facilities

The signing of Executive Order #20-69 by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly will require COVID-19 testing of residents and staff in certain adult care homes. The order takes effect Dec. 14 is part of an effort to prevent the entrance and spread of the virus into facilities.

Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Wednesday to provide updates regarding COVID-19 in Kansas, joined by KDADS Secretary Laura Howard and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman.

Kelly announced she has signed Executive Order #20-69, requiring COVID-19 testing in certain adult care homes, to enhance efforts to keep COVID-19 from entering and spreading through nursing homes.

The order requires testing of staff and residents in state-licensed facilities that are classified as adult care homes by the state and does not apply to facilities that are regulated by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as those facilities are already subject to similar testing requirements.

The Executive Order outlines the routine testing requirements for adult care home staff based upon county positivity rates, monitoring and adjusting every other week, reported by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The minimum testing interval based on the county positivity rates are as follows:

  • Low (<5% positive test result rate) or Green – Once a month
  • Medium (5% – 10% positive test result rate) or Yellow – Once a week
  • High (>10% positive test result rate) or Red – Twice a Week

The order states that, regardless of the frequency of testing being performed or the facility’s COVID-19 status, the facility should continue to regularly screen all staff, each resident, and all persons entering the facility, such as vendors, volunteers, and visitors, for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Executive Order #20-69 becomes effective on Monday, December 14, 2020, and remains in force until rescinded or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency expires.