Today the Minnesota Department of Health released updated guidance regarding nursing home visitation. This change comes on the heels of the updated guidance from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which was released on Wednesday.

According to the CMS recommendations, facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times and for all residents, regardless of vaccination status of the resident or visitor. Exceptions include instances in which the COVID-19 county positivity rate is greater than 10 percent and less than 70 percent of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated, resident(s) have a confirmed COVID-19 infection, or residents are in quarantine.

Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater) issued the following statement in response:

“Our seniors and their families have given up so much in the last year, and I’m so glad to see Minnesota moving in a direction that treats them as equal and valued members of society. Our committee hearings have told the stories of seniors and their families, and it’s clear they’ve been struggling to cope after a year of separation. MDH’s first steps are appreciated, but don’t go far enough.

“There’s still more work to be done, particularly in our assisted living settings, and I will continue fighting for our seniors and their families. I’ve heard from thousands of seniors who cannot cope any longer under these restrictions. Seniors in ANY level of care should not be treated how they have been—being sentenced to isolation for a year.

“What kind of society tells its vaccinated seniors who simply needed to live in a place with a little more support that they have to quarantine for another two weeks, simply for leaving a facility to give their grandchild a hug? Enough is enough, especially after they have been vaccinated.”