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All facilities with a COVID-19 outbreak are assigned a COVID-19 Case Manager to help navigate <br />guidance and connect them to resources. <br /> LPH departments provide outreach, consultation, and support for LTC partners. <br /> Skilled nursing facilities must test their staff (one or two times per week) based on state and <br />federal guidance. MDH, often in partnership with LPH, provides a range of supports to help <br />facilities accomplish this requirement. We are also working to obtain comprehensive data on <br />testing in LTC facilities, and will review and provide assistance if gaps are identified. <br /> MDH is reaching out to all assisted living facilities in the county and strongly encourages them to <br />start testing their staff regularly, offering them swabbing teams to do this if they need it. <br /> State assistance is always available to provide testing support to LTC facilities, including sending <br />a mobile swabbing team, providing an ordering physician, making all arrangements for labs, and <br />testing supplies. <br />Here is how we need you to help reduce community spread: <br /> By encouraging compliance with masking requirements and gathering restrictions. <br /> By increasing communication to/partnerships with businesses, including restaurants/bars, to <br />reinforce the harmful impact of spread on our vulnerable LTC residents. <br /> By amplifying communication in your community regarding the risk and spread of the virus to <br />everyone in the community and especially to our elders. <br /> By encouraging those most at risk for severe diseasethe elderly and those with health <br />conditionsto stay home as much as possible and encouraging those who interact with them to <br />use prevention measures carefully. <br />Reducing community spread is critical for successfully preventing COVID-19 infections and deaths in LTC <br />facilities. Your leadership and partnership are important in this effort. We share your commitment to <br />ensuring the health and well-being of your com <br />doing to help protect Minnesotans. <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Jan Malcolm <br />Commissioner of Health <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />