Minnesota Department of Human Services orders more than 200 adult day centers for seniors, people with disabilities to close

Apr 01, 20200

Photo courtesy of Interact. count

Jeanne Calvit, founder of Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, with some of her colleagues, in healthier times. The St. Paul-based center is working to help its artists and staff get through the pandemic.

The state agency responsible for protecting vulnerable adults has ordered the immediate closure of more than 200 adult day centers across Minnesota, to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading among thousands of seniors and adults with disabilities who attend the centers each day.

In a letter sent to providers on Sunday, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) said staff providing adult day services are not considered "critical sector" workers and are thus required to comply with Gov. Tim Walz's executive order asking Minnesotans to stay at home and limit their movements outside of their homes. About 220 licensed providers received the notice, which ordered them "to immediately close and cease providing those services until authorized to reopen."

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-department-of-human-services-orders-more-than-200-adult-day-centers-for-seniors-people-with-disabilities-to-close/569266822/