RCF Masking

To: Residential care facilities (Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Group Homes, and Intermediate Care Facilities)   From: CDPHE Residential Care Strike Team & Infection Prevention and Control Unit   CDPHE has recently received several questions from residential care facilities and local public health agencies about the guidance around mask wearing in residential care facilities. The current COVID-19 RCF Comprehensive Mitigation Guidance (starting on page 21), which aligns with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance, outlines that masks (source control) need to be utilized by healthcare providers, residents, and visitors based on the levels of community transmission (see the source control table). Facilities should utilize CDC’s COVID Data Tracker to assess the level of community transmission within both the state and county in which the facility is located. As indicated in the RCF Comprehensive Mitigation Guidance (pg. 9), if the two indicators suggest different transmission levels, the higher level should be selected. Currently, all RCFs in Colorado should be following requirements for “high” community transmission level.   Questions about masking and source control in RCFs can be directed to: cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us.