March 9, 2021
MRC Family,
For the last 12 months, we have worked together to keep each other safe and mitigate the spread of COVID 19 on our campuses. We are grateful that we were among the first to receive the vaccine and that over 90% of our residents participated. We have been encouraged by the dropping COVID case counts across our state and the release of another vaccine option. On March 2, 2021, Governor Abbott announced that the mask mandate would end on March 10, 2021 and businesses were free to open at 100%.
Many of you have expressed support of this decision while others have expressed concern. We are all ready to get back to life as usual. However, when we have been fighting something and been so careful for so long, we are reluctant to ease restrictions that have helped us mitigate spread.
Since the Governor’s announcement, the MRC team has been meeting and considering options that balance resident choice, safety, education, and prevention. Effective March 10, 2021, all MRC campuses will implement the following:
MRC Employees
Assisted Living, Memory Support, and Skilled Nursing
All mandates and restrictions currently in place remain in effect. These are licensed health care areas and are governed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. We will notify you should any mandates be lifted.
Independent Living
Recognizing the personal responsibility our residents have demonstrated over the last year and a trust in their commitment to the well-being of their neighbors, we are moving forward with a plan that will tighten restrictions or loosen restrictions based on the risk of infection. MRC will communicate risk levels to residents as they may change, either Risk Level Red - High, Risk Level Yellow - Moderate, or Risk Level Green - Low (please see the color coded graphics below). We are implementing this system with the following criteria as our guide:
Additional changes that may occur over time:
Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these decisions. Each of you are an important part of the MRC family.
Respectfully,
Your MRC Team