Update from the Administrator 3-27-23
DATE: 03/27/2023
Dear Residents, Families and Representatives,
I have 2 additional staff COVID-19 cases from today to report and 2 additional resident cases. These numbers are the combined numbers for our entire community including the nursing home and assisted living. The total number for our current outbreak is 17 residents and 9 staff.
We conducted testing again today for all residents and staff in the nursing home and the Meadows CBRF. We will continue testing using a combination of rapid and PCR tests to catch individuals that may have COVID even if they are not symptomatic. The time from exposure to testing positive or developing symptoms can be anywhere from 2 -14 days. We may still be seeing cases from very early on in the outbreak but it is difficult to know. Hopefully we will start to see new cases decrease soon.
I have had some questions regarding when staff return after testing positive for COVID. As soon as a staff person either tests positive or exhibits symptoms they are put off of work. Staff do not return to work after a positive test until their symptoms have improved and they test negative on a rapid test – anywhere from 7 to 10 days in most cases. In rare cases it may be as long as 14 days depending upon their symptoms and recovery time. We treat anyone with symptoms as potentially having COVID so if a person tests negative but still has symptoms they will not return to work until they are feeling better.
Residents who have symptoms are put on precautions and are tested at least daily until symptoms resolve or they test positive. It’s impossible to tell the difference between a cold, flu, allergies or COVID by just looking at someone, especially when symptoms are mild! Residents who test positive remain on precautions until 10 days have passed from the beginning of their symptoms. They have to be feeling better and test negative on a rapid test. If a resident has a more severe case or is immunocompromised it may take them longer to recover as well.
Thankfully most of our residents and staff that are ill are having fairly mild cases and are recovering well so far. We should begin to have residents cleared to return to normal activities in the next few days.
I know it can be scary to get a letter so often and hear about each new case, however, it is one of many requirements we follow. I feel it is important to keep everyone informed about what is going on so we can all take measures to protect ourselves and our community. Being vaccinated and following infection control practices such as wearing a mask, keeping distance from others when possible and good hand hygiene can all help to reduce the spread of the virus and the severity of the illness. Please keep in mind that if we are seeing this kind of outbreak in our home we know it is circulating in our community. Wearing masks when going out to larger gatherings such as church or other events may be well advised right now. In time this wave will pass too.
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out.
Stay well,
Linda Smith LNHA
Administrator