assisted living facilities open

more restrictions lifted

C1 3 and i'm veronica jean seltzer.

The next phase in the state's healthy at work plan starts today... lifting more covid-19 restrictions.

Fs txt bullets:no more covid-19 restrictions lifted - bars reopened - gatherings of 50 or less allowed ... under this phase... bars can reopen and gatherings of 50 people or less are allowed.

Public and private pools can also reopen...with some limitations.

The state is also allowing in-person visitation at some long-term care facilities.... like assisted livings, licensed personal care homes..and family care homes.

Abc 36's christy bollinger spoke with some in lexington..

That hope to open to limited visitors as soon as they're ready... but that's not today.

That's tonight's top story at five.

L3: top story white some long-term facilities open to visitors lexington l3: top story white jacqueline kennedy legacry reserve at fritz farm l3: top story white some long-term facilities open to visitors lexington l3: top story white karen venis ceo, sayre christian village l3: top story white some long-term facilities open to visitors lexington l3: top story white betty goss resident l3: top story white some long-term facilities open to visitors lexington many long-term facilities able to reopen monday to limited visitors... didn't..

Because they weren't ready.

State guidelines just came out friday.

"they're very restrictive so we had to absorb and we understand why.

Our ultimate goal is to protect our residents as well."

The guidelines allow some long-term facilities two visitors per resident... for a limited time..

Restricted to one area... the visit can't be in a living area... and has to be close to the front door.

"we have to submit a written plan to the state of all the things we're gonna be able to do that are going to follow the guidance that was issued on friday."

Legacy reserve at fritz farm..

And the sayre christian village... both weren't ready to bring visitors in monday.

"our first and foremost priority is visitation.

We know people want to see their loved ones and we want that too."

Legacy reserve is hopeful that can start as early as this week.

For sayre christian village... it might be a little longer.

"a lot of folks think that we're doing this too soon.

We've worked tremendously hard here on campus to keep our residents safe for the last nearly four months so it does seem kind of counter intuitive just to open up the doors today so we won't be doing that, we're not ready."

Ceo karen venis says they'll have to make physical modificiations to accomdate the guidelines... and that can't happen overnight.

For resident betty goss..

She says she wants to wait until its safe.

"i'm in no hurry to go downstairs but when it happens my feeling is it's gonna be safe otherwise they wouldn't let us go down."

In the meantime, she'll be talking on the phone to her loved ones... and staying as safe as possible, until the virus calms down.

"and i'm looking forward to that day and i think we're all praying for that day."

Christy bollinger, abc 36 news.

Also today..

Some long-term facilities were able to resume communal dining..

Six feet apart... and start back group activities with ten people or less.

On july 15..

Skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities will be allowed to have limited visitation.