Health Officials Ease COVID-19 Restrictions on Long-Term Care Facilities

The Minnesota Department of Health is further easing restrictions on long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning Saturday, Oct. 17, long-term care facilities will be able to allow indoor visits, as long as the facility hasn’t had a COVID-19 case in the prior two weeks and also the positivity rate in the county the facility is in has to be under 10%.

The new guidance still recommends that long-term care facilities limit how many visitors a resident can have at once and the duration of indoor visits.

During a recent COVID-19 briefing, Minnesota infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann provided an update on long-term care facilities.

“Currently we have had 245 long-term care facilities that have had a COVID case in the last 14 days…” said Ehresmann.

Ehresmann says there are some counties that have more than 10% positivity rate, meaning visitation in those counties will remain restricted under the new guidelines.

“We have two counties, Martin and Redwood, with more than 10% positivity rate…”said Ehresmann.

Health officials say the new guidelines continue to balance the safety of residents, and their well-being…. as social isolation during the pandemic, and its effect on mental health, has been a significant concern for families and health officials alike.