Lifting of Restrictions at Adult Day Centers

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Roni Falck

Effective May 28, 2021, DHS is lifting all COVID-19 restrictions issued by DHS for operating adult day centers. 

Changes for providers include:

• Return to regular days and hours of operation as approved by DHS Licensing before COVID-19.
• Participants do not have to be strictly maintained in cohorts; however, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be an essential health concern for your program. Providers may find that keeping people in separate activity groups will reduce the likelihood of the spread of COVID-19 or minimize its impact.
• Strict social distancing is not required; however, it is also a means of effective disease mitigation that can continue to be used by programs.
• Operate at full capacity, meaning the licensed capacity approved by DHS Licensing before COVID-19, if you were not operating at full capacity due to limitations created by maintaining cohorts and social distancing.
• Eliminating mandatory quarantines from your program regardless of exposure or vaccine status. If you learn of a potential exposure to COVID-19, you must follow the most current guidance from MDH regarding exposure and quarantines.

Providers must follow requirements within Minnesota's Stay Safe Plan, as outlined in Executive Order 21-21.  A center-specific COVID-19 Preparedness Plan must be maintained and provided to staff.  Centers must ensure training is provided to staff on its contents and that the plan be available to regulatory authorities and public safety officers upon request. Plans should continue to be updated to reflect your most current program operation, including updated recommendations from Stay Safe MN and MDH. Plans will continue to describe how you clean and disinfect your adult day center and practices by which you will screen for and respond to signs and symptoms of COVID-19. If you directly provide transportation to participants, your plan must address how any needed mitigation efforts will be implemented during transportation.

License holders should follow and comply with MDH's strong recommendation that all unvaccinated participants and staff wear face masks when indoors. Regardless of vaccination status, face masks should be worn at all times by people with compromised immune systems.

We will talk through this guidance during our ADS Huddle on Thursday, May 27 at 3:00.  To participate, click here.