Businesses and Congregate Settings

Congregate Settings and Sector-Specific Resources

A congregate setting is a place where many people reside, meet, or gather in close proximity for a limited or extended period of time. Examples of congregate settings include homeless shelters, group homes, prisons, and detention centers.  

The person in charge of any residential or day program, service or facility licensed or operated by any agency of the Commonwealth, school, or summer camp is required to report if they suspect an outbreak. This includes child care facilities, assisted living facilities, correctional or other detention facilities, mental health programs, and other group settings where outbreaks of illness might occur. Suspected outbreaks can be reported directly to the local health department where the facility is located or through VDH’s Suspected Outbreak Reporting Portal.

• Congregate Settings (CDC)
• Homeless Service Sites and in Correctional and Detention Facilities (CDC)
• School and Child Care Settings (VDH)
• Migrant Labor Camps (VDH)
• Long-Term Care Settings (VDH)

General Resources

• Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Ventilation (CDC) 
• Ventilation Best Practices (VDH) (PDF) (3pp, 293KB)
• Common Ventilation Terms (VDH) (PDF) (2pp, 325KB)
• Clean Air in Buildings Challenge (EPA) 
• How to Protect Yourself & Others (CDC) 
• COVID-19 Hosptial Admission Levels (CDC)
• COVID-19 Signage Toolkit (VDH)
• Guidance for Ending Isolation (VDH)  (PDF) (1pp, 134KB)
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