MDH Updates Assisted Living Facility Guidance for Dining, Social Activities

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Health has updated its guidance for dining and activities in assisted living facilities, citing fewer COVID-19 cases in recent weeks among residents, most of whom are now vaccinated.

The change only affects assisted living facilities and does not impact skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes because those facilities serve higher-risk patients.

MDH says people who are fully vaccinated can sit closer than six feet apart during activities and dining within the assisted living setting. MDH does still recommend face masks for residents when they are less than six feet apart, except when eating or drinking.

Also, vaccinated residents can gather with other households in the facility on an informal basis. If one party is unvaccinated, they can still gather with appropriate COVID-19 mitigations, MDH says.

“Due to the real impact we are seeing high vaccination rates have on the spread of disease and serious illness, we as state regulators of assisted living are changing our guidance to allow for more open dining and activities to better meet the needs of residents, families and providers,” said MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm.

Last week, state health officials announced that nearly all long-term care facilities have had the opportunity for their residents and staff to get two vaccine shots.

“It’s really encouraging that as of the last report, statewide, 80 percent of residents in skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes and 85 percent of residents in assisted living facilities have now received two doses of the vaccine,” Malcolm said on March 25th.

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