Residents and Family Members,
We continue to be COVID free on the campus. This daily county report identified 57 cases for September so far. The hospital census is currently 9 positives/presumptive COVID patients reported in Parkview and 0 in St Mary Corwin. An outbreak at a senior living residence was reported yesterday.
As I mentioned in last week’s letter, we received the results from the testing performed on 27 Aug. Since then, CMS and the Governor’s office has been very busy with testing direction for facilities. CMS has issued a requirement for facilities to establish and conduct routine testing of staff based on the positive rate in the county. The testing can be from monthly to twice a week depending on this rate. Currently, our requirement is to test at least monthly. We did receive the Human and Health Services provided rapid test unit last week. The results of this test can be provided in 15 minutes. However, this test is not as accurate as the current test we conduct through the state lab. The test is most accurate within the first 5 days of contracting the disease. We have the option to continue to use the state lab and the type of testing performed through the lab provided the lab can return results within 48 hours. This will be our primary process for testing with the rapid test to be used as a backup if necessary.
As the requirement (expectation) is for all staff to be tested, we are still working with our leadership on the procedure to follow should an employee decline testing. Guidance is clear if the staff is symptomatic or ongoing testing related to an outbreak is being conducted, however does not address staff who are refusing as part of on-going monitoring. CMS is not directing the testing of asymptomatic residents at this time.
The guidance of indoor visitation was released in the last week. Visitors (age 18 and above only) must be tested within 48 hours of the visit and provide results at the time of the visit. The requirements also address that 100% of staff and residents must have been tested during baseline testing (we currently do not meet the requirement) and we would need on-going testing currently at twice a month to include any resident who has left the building in the previous 14 days. Therefore, at this time, we will not be offering indoor visits as we do not meet the mandates of the governor’s policy for the visits. In addition, this policy addresses beauticians in the facility. Until we establish our testing practice and meet baseline requirements, we will not be resuming this service at this time.
Lastly, a reminder we have not received authorization for pets to be part of our outdoor visits. I’m aware of the positive aspects pets can bring to our residents, however, visitation is still not permitted at this time.
Sincerely,
Keith Jackson
Executive Director
