Missoula Co. Increases COVID-19 Measures in Senior Living Communities

The Missoula City-County Health Department in Montana has announced a new health officer directive to step up COVID-19 measures for all assisted living and long-term care communities and retirement homes with communal gathering spaces, reports NBC Montana . The order comes as the county reports positive COVID-19 cases in at least 10 senior living communities. The new mandates are on top of the governor's order and other requirements. All visitors are barred except for end-of-life compassionate care, while all entrances must have signs posted prohibiting visitors. The order also says new admits and patients being transferred must be quarantined for two weeks from the admit date. Moreover, communities without specific orders due to the coronavirus can permit group activities, provided participants are masked and stay six feet apart. Communities may additionally allow communal dining with the same distancing rule and as long as residents wear masks when entering and exiting the dining room. All staff must further wear surgical-grade masks or higher, while residents should wear cloth face coverings except when outside or alone in a separate room. Any community with a positive COVID-19 test should offer it to all residents and staff regardless of symptoms.