Department
01110 of Health

Mike DeWIne, Governor Lance D. Himes. Interim Director
Jon Hustod. Lt.Governor

Director?s Order

RE: Director?s Order for the Testing of the Residents and Staff of all Residential Care Facilities

1. Lance D. Himes, Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), pursuant to the authority
granted to me in RC. 3701.13 to ?make special preventing the spread of contagious or
infectious diseases? and because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that due to
the congregate nature and population served, residential care facilities are at high risk for 
the virus that causes spreading among their residents, and the presence of must
be identi?ed so that it can be addressed. ORDER the following:

1.

Lo.)

Effective l2:01 am. August '24. 2020, each residential care facility licensed by ODH shall
cooperate with testing for residents and staff as required by the State. In order to
protect the health and safety of residents and staff. the State has determined this testing shall
include. but is not limited to. staff testing and strategic testing of residents in order to prevent the
spread of 9 within a facility and a community.

Each residential care facility shall require its staff to be tested in accordance with state issued
guidelines.

Testing shall be conducted in accordance with State issued guidelines. Such guidelines will
consider the individual circumstances of residents. The residential care facility shall assist in
creating a testing plan for residents and staff.

Residential care facilities may be required to provide additional information as necessary to
address the health of its residents and staff related to COVID-19.

The State will provide guidance to mitigate facility staffing shortages in the event staff test
positive for and are unable to work. consistent with CDC guidance.

Test results shall be reported in accordance with the Journal Entry of March 14, 2020. ?Amended
Reporting Requirements for 2019 - Novel Coronavirus Under Ohio Revised Code 3701.14 and
3701.23.?

This Order takes into consideration and is intended to be consistent with resident rights in RC.
3721.13. -

To the extent possible, residential care facilities are encouraged to use the Ohio Department of
Aging?s comprehensive testing program that supports testing in residential care
facilities.

246 North High Street 614 466-3543
Columbus. Ohio 43215 A 

The State of IS an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prov1deror?ADA Services

9. This action is taken to protect residential care facility residents and staff during this unprecedented
pandemic. This Order shall be effective at 12:01 am. August 24. 2020 and shall remain in full
force and effect until the State of Emergency declared by the Governor no longer exists, or the
Director of the Ohio Department of Health rescinds or modi?es this Order at a sooner time and
date.

Accordingly. I hereby ORDER that residential care facilities implement this Order to protect residential care
facility residents and staff during this unprecedented pandemic. This Order shall be effective 12:01 am.
August 24, 2020. and shall remain in full force and effect until the State of Emergency declared by the
Governor no longer exists. or the Director of the Ohio Department of Health rescinds or modi?es this
Order at a sooner time and date. Nothing in this Order shall replace or modify any other Order regarding
residential care facilities.

Mar/W gem/we

Lance D. Himes Date
Interim Director of Health