Long-term Care: COVID-19
On this page:
Visitors and outside services
Other resources
Guidance and resources for long-term care (LTC) facilities.
5/7/20
- Expand testing for residents and workers in long-term care facilities.
- Provide testing support and troubleshooting to clear barriers faster.
- Get personal protective equipment to facilities when needed.
- Ensure adequate staffing levels for even the hardest-hit facilities.
- Leverage our partnerships to better apply their skills and talents.
7/28/20
Long-term Care COVID-19 Response: November 2020 Update (PDF)
11/6/20
- Template COVID-19 Response Summary for Long-term Care Facilities (Word)
Use this template document to communicate with resident families about COVID-19 cases that have impacted residents and staff in your facility and the actions that your team has taken to prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
12/18/20
- Long-term Care Testing: COVID-19
All guidance and materials related to LTC testing activities.
- COVID-19 Toolkit: Information for Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
Updated 8/14/20
- Employee Illness Tracking Tool (Excel) | Instructions (PDF)
5/26/20 - Information about COVID-19 Vaccination in Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
1/22/21
- How to Complete the Long-term Care COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting Form (PDF)
1/19/21 - COVID-19 Vaccination Tracking Tool for Long-term Care (Excel) | Instructions (PDF)
1/6/21
- Principles for COVID-19 Cohorting in Long-term Care (PDF)
11/25/20
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Fan Considerations for Long-term Care during COVID-19 (PDF)
9/4/20
- Helping Long-Term Care Facilities Prevent and Address COVID-19 (PDF)
Actions by MDH and the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to address emergent issues with LTC facilities.
Updated 4/22/20
If a resident passes away in your facility, MDH recommends testing for COVID-19 if there are any confirmed cases in your facility or if the cause of death is not clearly due to causes besides COVID-19. A nasal pharyngeal swab needs to be collected from the deceased individual for testing prior to sending the body to the funeral home or medical examiner's office. The specimen can be sent to MDH for COVID-19 testing free of charge. Please see Evaluating and Testing for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for appropriate forms and submission guidance and call MDH (1-877-676-5414) to report the death and suspicion of COVID-19.
Visitors and outside services
- Long-term Care Guidance for Non-medically Necessary Outings
- Minnesota Home Care Provider/Assisted Living Visitation and Activities Guidance Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF)
Updated 10/28/20
- COVID-19 Guidance: Nursing Home Visitation and Activity Restriction Modifications (PDF)
10/14/20
- Essential Caregiver Guidance for Long-term Care Facilities
Updated 10/13/20 - COVID-19: Visitation Restriction Guidance for Residential Care Facilities in Minnesota (PDF)
3/31/20
- Guidance for Selecting In-building Visitation Areas in Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
11/4/20
- Guidance for Window Visits at Long-Term Care Facilities (PDF)
6/12/20
- Outdoor Visitation Guidance for Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
6/17/20
- Guidance for Temporary Tent Structures and Clear Dividers for Long-term Care Visitation (PDF)
9/30/20
- Beauty Shop Guidance for Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
Updated 10/13/20
- Elections and Voting Guidance for Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
8/27/20
- Guidance for Congregate Living Settings to Assist Residents Requesting Camera Placement (PDF)
4/6/20
Other resources
See Infection Prevention and Control: COVID-19 for guidance on responding to and monitoring exposures, optimizing PPE, and more.
- Preparing for COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
CDC tiered recommendations to address nursing homes and long-term care facilities in different phases of COVID-19 response.
- Long-Term Care Facility Toolkit: Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccination at Your Facility
CDC toolkit that provides long-term care facility (LTCF) administrators and clinical leadership with information and resources to help build vaccine confidence among health care personnel and residents.