March 4, 2021
We are blessed to have been COVID-19 free for a number of weeks. During routine testing conducted this week, we identified 2 Skilled Nursing team members who were positive for COVID-19. There are no other Skilled Nursing team members or residents showing signs or symptoms at this point.
Skilled Nursing
As a result of the team members testing positive, the entire Skilled Nursing facility is back in a yellow precautionary quarantine phase. All team members will need to wear an N-95 mask, eye protection, and a medical gown any time they are on the units and for all direct care. Compassionate care visitors will be given appropriate PPE when they are visiting their loved ones. Residents will be tested weekly until there are 2 weeks of all negative tests. Team members will continue to be tested twice a week this week and next. If the positivity rate stays below 10%, team members will only need to be tested once a week beginning the week of 3/14. In order to have indoor/outdoor visitation the facility is required to have no new COVID-19 cases for the past 14 days and a county positivity rate below 10%. As soon as we meet these criteria, we will restart indoor/outdoor visitation.
Personal Care
Personal Care remains COVID-19 free. Residents are only tested if they leave the facility for a medical appointment. Team members will continue to be tested twice a week this week and next. If the positivity rate stays below 10%, team members will only need to be tested once a week beginning the week of 3/14. The criteria for indoor visitation are county positivity rate must be below 10% and personal care must have not had any new positive cases in the past 14 days to begin indoor visitation. We currently meet these criteria and are working on a plan to restart indoor visitation for Personal Care residents. Communication will be sent out shortly regarding the process for this visitation.
Reminder to families
We continue to receive a number of questions regarding changes in policies now that more residents, team members and families have been vaccinated. At this time, per DOH and DHS, there are to be no changes to policies or procedures regardless of vaccination status. Visitation policies remain the same and the same PPE must be worn for all compassionate care visitation as in the past. We are hopeful that at some point in the future, vaccination status will have an effect on our policies and procedures and allow us to return a little closer to a pre-pandemic normal.