by Darla Van Rosendale, CEO
I wanted to give you an update on how things are going here at Dow Rummel with COVID cases and some changes we are putting into effect today. Over the past 6 weeks, we have had a couple cases at a time that we have been dealing with but with low exposures to residents and staff. We currently have a couple active cases with possible exposure to 5 staff and residents that we are testing and monitoring. This activity correlates to the number of active cases in Minnehaha County as it has throughout the pandemic. We will keep you posted if we have any cases that affect a large group of residents or staff.
Even though we have seen a few cases of COVID here at Dow Rummel recently, we feel the exposure to others has been very low. Therefore, we are going to make a change in mask requirements for our non-licensed areas. Beginning this afternoon, we will not require visitors or staff to wear masks in our Village North and Village West independent living buildings and in the common areas around the campus. The Department of Health and CMS are still requiring visitors and staff to wear masks in licensed areas. So, all visitors and staff will still be required to wear masks in Village South assisted living, Village East memory care and assisted living, the Allen Wing health care center and in the Dow and Rummel wings since there are assisted living residents who live in that building as well. We will also require all visitors and staff to wear masks in the common areas if they are attending an indoor event of 20 people or more such as attending church or a larger gathering in the Rose Room or Gathering Hall. Please be aware that the mask requirement may change if we see an increase in cases here at Dow Rummel or in Minnehaha County and will keep you informed of any changes.
Health screenings are still required for all staff and for all visitors unless the visitors come in through the Village West or Village North apartment entrances to visit an independent living resident. As always, we ask you to wear a mask or stay home if you are not feeling well, showing signs or symptoms of COVID or have been notified that you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID recently.
THANKS for your ongoing support and cooperation in keeping Dow Rummel a safe place to live and visit.