The California Department of Health has issued an All Facilities Letter (AFL) providing new and updated COVID-19 guidance for healthcare facilities. The letter includes interim guidance for facilities to prepare for community transmission of the virus, strategies to prevent the spread in long-term care facilities, and the use of N95 filtering facepiece respirators that have exceeded their manufacturer-designated shelf life. Healthcare facilities should work with local public health departments, designate and train staff for COVID-19 patient care, monitor healthcare workers, and make contingency plans for increased absenteeism. Long-term care facilities should adhere to the CDC's Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations. Facilities should also ensure compliance with the aerosol transmissible disease standard and submit program flexibility requests for alternative spaces for patient screening.

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