MEDIA

RELEASE

Contact, General:
Hayley Devlin
Public Information Officer 406-880-0317

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2021

Missoula City-County Health Department Issues Relaxed Restrictions for

Long-term Care Facilities
This week, Health Officer Ellen Leahy issued new COVID-19 guidance and requirements for
long-term care, assisted living, and retirement homes with communal spaces operating in
Missoula County.

These new requirements take into consideration that many residents have been offered
voluntary COVID-19 vaccination, yet not all residents and staff have been vaccinated for COVID-
19 and transmission of COVID-19 is still occurring in Missoula County and Montana. Facilities
under the facility-specific health officer orders shall follow the listed rules effective
immediately:

1. Visitors are allowed in the facility if the following requirements are met:
. Face coverings or masks are required at all times, in accordance with the February 12,
2021 Health Board Rule.
. Visitation occurs in a private room that is not shared by another resident.
. Visitors must also wear face coverings in private rooms.
. Signs are posted at all entryways stating that “All visitors ages five and older must wear
a face covering or mask at all times.”

2. New admits and patients being transferred from another health care facility, including those
being readmitted after hospital discharge, shall be quarantined for 14 days from the admit or
transfer date.



3. Only facilities that can maintain strict isolation may admit COVID-19 patients from hospital
discharge while the patient’s isolation period is still in effect. Group activities and communal
dining are only allowed if the follow conditions are met:

. The facility is not under specific orders due to the presence of COVID-19;
. Participants and diners wear cloth face coverings at all times, except when actively
eating or drinking, and;
. Participants and diners maintain at least 6-feet physical distance from others at all
times.

4. Group activities are not allowed at facilities that are under specific Orders issued due to the

presence of COVID-19.

5. All staff shall wear at least surgical masks, cloth masks are not acceptable; use universal
precautions and related PPE for all personal care; and fit tested N-95’s when providing oral care
to a suspected or known COVID-19 case and when performing any aerosolizing procedures on
any resident or patient, regardless of known COVID-19 status.

6. Residents or patients shall wear a cloth face covering except when outside or alone in a
separate room.

7. Any facility that experiences a positive COVID-19 test among staff or residents shall offer
testing to all residents and provide testing to all staff regardless of symptoms. The Montana
Department of Public Health and Human Services will provide test kits and analysis, the facility
is responsible for collecting the specimens.

8. COVID-19 symptom checks shall occur twice daily for all residents and once at shift onset for
staff.

9. Staff are not allowed to work if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

10. Patients or residents who have COVID-19 compatible symptoms, or who receive a 
positive
test result, must be immediately isolated. 


Health Officer Ellen Leahy can be reached for questions regarding this Health Officer Order
from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. today at 406-240-5077.