During a Covid outbreak are there legal limitations on keeping a positive, wandering patient isolated?

So sorry to hear this. What has the facility said about this situation?

Its not possible to isolate covid residents inside their rooms in a Memory Care Assisted Living environment. They simply do not understand "stay in your room and don't come out" nor can they be locked in. How do you suggest the staff "keep her isolated"? Your mom is free to stay in her room if she so desires though. Or you can take mom home with you, or just let things play out as they will. My mother lived in Memory Care Assisted Living for the entire run of early covid, 3 years, and never caught it. In fact, nobody in the AL or MC, a total of 125 residents, died of the virus when it was at its strongest. They did wear masks for most of the time, but not all residents did all the time. Again, with dementia at play, it's not possible to force a resident to comply with rules they don't understand or cannot remember. You can report the MC to the Health Dept, but forced compliance with dementia residents is impossible and that's the absolute truth.

Best of luck to you.

Normal protocol should be for all residents to isolate in their rooms. All meals should be eaten in their rooms and all common areas including the dining room should be closed.
Most likely the best they can do is continually remind her to wear a mask and stay in her room. Physically restraining her would be illegal in that type of facility. Skilled nursing facilities can restrain patients in certain circumstances when they pose a threat to themselves or others. I would speak to the director and ask what protocol they are following. If they are not having all residents isolating in their rooms, report that to the county health department.

You need to speak to the director of the facility immediately. It is NOT okay in any universe to allow other residents to be exposed to a deadly disease by an infected patient.