This commentary discusses the provision of safe care in long-term care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors propose the following measures to ensure the safety of long-term care patients:

1. facilities should only accept patients with COVID-19 infections if they can provide effective airborne isolation;
2. patients recovering from COVID-19 need to have 2 negative tests on 2 consecutive days, as well as remain fever-free without mediation for at least 48 hours and not require ventilatory support that generates aerosols;
3. facilities should screen potential admissions for typical and atypical signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and;
4. facilities that are currently COVID-19 naïve should not accept any new admissions for whom there may be a concern for COVID-19.