MDH Posts Additional Environmental Guidance on Indoor Visitation

In new Guidance for Selecting In-building Visitation Area in Long-Term Facilities (11/04/20) released today, MDH provides more details about divider specifications in rooms or visitation areas, as well as specifics on room ventilation and airflow diagrams.

If a divider is used, the following guidelines apply:

Dividers are considered an interior finish and must meet rating requirements for interior finish.
Clear dividers should be polycarbonate material (Lexan™).
If a framed wall is installed as a divider, the walls should be framed with steel studs and completely covered with drywall.
Dividers should be sized to ensure separation between staff, residents or visitors whether sitting, standing, or otherwise moving within the space.
Dividers must be at least 18 inches from the ceiling to allow the sprinkler system and smoke detection systems to work properly.
Dividers must be stable and secure.
Use of a divider is not a replacement for wearing face coverings and physical distancing.

This new guidance adds to previous publications on HVAC COVID-19 Guidance from MDH (9/4/20) and on clear dividers in this document: Tents and Clear Divider MDH Guidance (9/30/20).

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