FORT MYERS, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that he will loosen restrictions on visitors to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in Florida.
He locked down the facilities at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to try to prevent the spread of the virus.
READ: Thursday’s coronavirus updates: 5,000 new cases, 57 new deaths reported in Florida
Last month, DeSantis allowed visitations to resume at the facilities, but visitors had to make appointments and wear personal protection equipment. Residents were also limited to how many visitors they could have at a time.
He said while speaking in Fort Myers on Thursday that facilities will now be required to allow outdoor visits even if a facility has reported a case of COVID-19.
DeSantis also said children will now be able to visit the facilities, and he is leaving it up to facilities to determine how many visitors may be allowed at one time.
He said he is also eliminating social distancing requirements for compassionate caregivers
READ: CDC updates guidance for COVID-19 close contact exposure times
“Health is about people’s physical, mental, emotional (and) social well-being,” DeSantis said.
He said he reached his decision after learning that cases at facilities had dropped by 70 percent since Sept. 1, when visitations were allowed to resume.
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DeSantis said the state will continue to supply facilities with rapid response tests.
Florida reported more than 5,500 new coronavirus cases Thursday. Click here for a full list of cases and deaths in Central Florida.
Reporter Jeff Deal will have a live, in-depth report on the changes on Channel 9 Eyewitness News.
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