Live Update to Residents-April 29, 2020
Daily Live updates to residents on our in-house TV970 have become a popular way for us to stay in touch while social distancing! Today’s update featured John Burns, President and CEO; Annette Branch, Buyer; Melissa Markey, Manager Wellness; Taryn Young, Fitness Specialist; and Vanessa Perry, Pastoral Care Administrator.
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
John Burns
As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reports:
• 85,307 people have been tested for COVID-19.
• Total positive COVID-19 cases are 14,961
• 2,259 have been hospitalized
• 522 total deaths
Governor Northam has shared part of his Forward Virginia blueprint plan to reopen Virginia. There are four measures that must be met before Virginia could begin to ease restrictions. Two measures have not been met:
• Percentage of positive tests needs to trend downward for 14 consecutive days. It is still upward as of today.
• Hospitalization rate needs to trend downward for 14 consecutive days. It has been flat for about two weeks.
We do meet the last two measures:
• Adequate hospital capacity in Virginia
• Adequate supply of personal protective equipment in hospitals
Once those measures are met, some businesses would be able to reopen with strict safety restrictions. This is not fully defined yet. The plan recommends continued social distancing, continued work from home for those who can telework and wearing masks in public. We are not yet ready to determine how Westminster Canterbury will begin to reopen some resident services and programs when the time is appropriate.
Two additional staff members have been tested for COVID-19 after exhibiting symptoms, and so far one of those has come back negative. We have no new suspected resident cases. We are committed to continuing our transparency in keeping you up-to-date about possible COVID-19 cases.
Self-quarantine and social distancing measures are what keeps our residents and employees safe and healthy. Continue to be vigilant in staying in your area of the campus and not gathering in groups. If we have another COVID-19 diagnosis, it is much easier for us to trace who has been exposed if residents have stayed in their areas of the campus while inside the building. Outside of the building, residents are free to go wherever they would like on campus.
A new sign was posted outside our front gate by the Henrico Police Department that says “Heroes Work Here.” Thank you to the police department for this gesture. We agree with the sentiment!
Incident Command Introduction
Yesterday, Glendon Kemp, Manager of Security and Incident Commander of the Incident Command team, shared a behind-the-scenes look at the team that meets daily to manage our response to the coronavirus pandemic. Annette Branch, Buyer in Materials Management, and Tony Hepler, Manager of Materials Management, have worked tirelessly since before COVID-19 reached the Richmond region to ensure we have adequate supplies of our critical personal protective equipment. Thank you to Annette and Tony for their leadership on this.
Annette Branch
The Materials Management team cares deeply about residents and staff and strives to protect their safety and wellbeing. They have worked creatively to find necessary products – goggles, masks, thermometers, gowns, ponchos and even stethoscopes – to keep Westminster Canterbury well equipped to fight COVID-19. They have thought outside the box, using products and vendors we have not thought of before, while being mindful of how dollars are spent. We received lots of assistance in locating products thanks to vendors, the Incident Command team, entire staff, residents and family members. Homemade masks have been donated by residents, staff, caring family members and others from the community. Thank you to everyone for their caring support of Materials Management that has allowed us to maintain a reasonable stock since before the pandemic reached our region. They continue to work to locate necessary materials and personal protective equipment.
Melissa Markey and Taryn Young – Wellness
The last day of the April CV-19 Cardiovascular Wellness Challenge is tomorrow. If you completed the exercises every day during the challenge, you may be entered in a special prize drawing. Please call the Fitness Center at ext. 6669 or email mmarkey@wcrichmond.org to let us know if you completed the challenge by Wednesday, May 6. This information can also be found in The Tales.
For the month of May, a Wellness I Spy scavenger hunt will keep you engaged, moving, connected and joyful. Each day there will be a new prompt encouraging you to become mindful of your surroundings. Calendars will be distributed to residents on Friday, May 1.
On Friday, May 1, a new Core and More class with Taryn and Julie will be on TV970. A new TV970 schedule in this week’s Tales outlines programming content and times.
• Core and More at 10 a.m. daily, except Thursdays
• Yoga, Cardio and Balance at 4 p.m. daily, except Sundays
Watch the video for a demonstration of this week’s exercises.
Vanessa Perry – Pastoral Care
Daily Prayer Booklets are available for the month of May. The booklet contains prayers submitted by some of our resident clergy, as well as suggested scriptures to read and ponder during the day. If you would like a copy please call David Curtis at ext. 5179 or Vanessa Perry at ext. 1502.
A worship service will air live on TV970 tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Deacon David Curtis will be preaching. The bulletin for the service can be found in this week’s Tales, the Center business area, and the Tower Desk.
John 6:35-40
Jesus answered them: I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst.
But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe. Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me; I will certainly not reject anyone who comes to me, because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me. Now the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, but that I should raise it up on the last day. It is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and that I should raise that person up on the last day.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, a few of your humble servants come to you this day to, first, thank you. We know that although we are wearing a mask or a face shield and gloves, that you are our ultimate protector and shield. We lean on you to help us during our daily journeys and tasks. We ask for healing and strength over those who are in pain. We lift up everyone who is in need right now. We ask that you be there for the lonely, the weak, the strong, and those that may not even know that there is a need for You. Be with everyone under the sound of my voice. I pray that you would touch them Lord, touch their loved ones, touch their friends, and touch their enemies. Be with every resident, every employee, every contractor, and every vendor. We love you, Lord, and we trust in You. All this I pray, in your precious name. Amen.