ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It has been three long months for families unable to visit loved ones in long-term care facilities.  But a newly announced emergency rule to routinely test staff for COVID-19 could help end their long wait to be reunited in person with their elderly family members.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the rule during his news conference Tuesday evening.

“We think it’s critical that every person who works at a long term care facility is tested every two weeks,” he said.

The official orders from the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) state that starting July 7, both nursing homes and assisted living facilities will not be allowed to admit staff inside who haven’t been tested for COVID-19. Staff will also have to be tested every two weeks thereafter. 

The state says it will provide the test kits to carry out the routine testing.

The Florida Health Care Association, which represents 82 percent of the state’s long-term care facilities, recommended this type of testing regimen a month ago.

“I definitely think that can help because we know this virus can present itself in people that are asymptomatic,” said FHCA spokesperson Kristen Knapp. “So that’s why the testing is important, but not just one-time testing, because that really is just a snapshot.”

The new emergency rule doesn’t include resident testing. However, Knapp said staff testing is a good starting point, because they are the ones coming and going from facilities as the state continues to open up.

The hope now is long-term care facilities won’t be too far behind. However, Gov. DeSantis hasn’t indicated any sort of timeline for when that might happen.  

Meanwhile, the federal government recommends facilities be COVID-19 free for at least 28 days before allowing visitors back in.

Read the full order from the AHCA below: