Live Update to Residents-June 5, 2020
Daily Live updates to residents on our in-house TV970 keep us informed and connected. Today’s update featured John Burns, President and CEO; Glendon Kemp, Manager of Security; and David Curtis, Chaplain.
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
John Burns
As of today, the COVID-19 data for Virginia includes:
• 361,519 people have been tested for COVID-19. Positive cases total 48,532, with 676 new cases since yesterday.
• The rolling seven-day positivity rate in Virginia is 10.1% (a decrease of 0.5%), Henrico is 11.6% (increase of 0.5%) and Richmond is 14.0% (decrease of 0.1%).
• In total, 5,008 people have been hospitalized to date. 1,452 are currently hospitalized.
• There have been 1,453 deaths associated with COVID-19.
• 6,392 people have recovered.
Avalon, The Gables and Monticello
Residents of Avalon, The Gables and Monticello are in quarantine due to potential exposure to the Assisted Living staff member who tested positive for COVID-19. Thank you to our Assisted Living residents for their patience and grace dealing with the challenge of being quarantined. We expect all residents will test negative, but we are being cautious to ensure we do not have an outbreak.
All residents and staff of Avalon have been tested, and we are awaiting results. If all Avalon residents and staff are negative, we will retest them on Tuesday, June 8. If those results are negative, they will come out of quarantine.
All residents and staff of The Gables and Monticello are being tested today. If all test results are negative they will be retested on Saturday, June 13. If those results are negative, they will come out of quarantine.
We tested more staff in Parsons Health Center today, and testing will continue into next week.
Quarantine Updates
Many have been asking what happens if someone tests positive on campus. If a resident goes off campus, is exposed to the virus, and comes back into Westminster Canterbury but is good about wearing a mask, sanitizing hands often and having no close contact with other residents, contract tracing effort will determine that only the sick individual or a few individuals need to be quarantined and tested. All other non-exposed residents will be unaffected.
If a resident goes off campus, is exposed to the virus, and comes back into Westminster Canterbury and gets together socially with other residents without protecting themselves, the individual and group could cause the virus spread to others on campus. If we have an outbreak, we will likely be required to quarantine many people or everyone until the National Guard tests everyone.
Others ask who will decide how the event is handled. This depends on the scenario. If it is localized to an individual and we can trace, test and quarantine ourselves, Westminster Canterbury maintains control. If there is viral spread that leads to an outbreak, Westminster Canterbury will lose control while the National Guard works with Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to control the outbreak.
Please take responsibility for your safety and the safety of your friends and neighbors.
Mask Wearing
What are we going to do about all residents not wearing their masks or not wearing them correctly? It is scary to be around others who are unmasked. Please wear your mask and keep your distance to keep yourself safe. The person not wearing the mask is at risk. Westminster Canterbury will correct residents we see in public spaces and not allow residents into program and service space without complying with the masking requirements.
Advice When Going Off Campus
Please take responsibility. Wear your mask. Keep your distance. Wash your hands. Stay home if you’re not well. Keep hand sanitizer in your car, purse or pocket and use it every time you get in your car. As soon as you finish pumping gas, using your credit card, signing a receipt or before touching anything else, use hand sanitizer.
When you’re in a grocery store:
• Watch the signage for where to go in and out and what direction to go in the store.
• Make sure your cart has been wiped down.
• Don’t wear gloves.
• Don’t pick up things unless you’re planning to buy them.
• Use hand sanitizer when you leave.
• Keep your distance from other shoppers. You may have to wait for someone to get what they want before you can step up to get what you want.
• Maintain your distance at the cashier.
• Shops have capacity limits, so you may have to wait outside or come back later if they are full.
Other Updates
Westbrook Avenue looks great after being paved. Brook Road looks a lot different, so please be careful. Be careful when driving on and off campus as many people are out walking and biking.
We still don’t have a date for the bank opening.
Remember that employee offices and the Clinic are not open to walk-in visitors. Please call ahead. When you have an appointment in the Clinic, please wait until they call you to come down for your appointment.
Fun Friday Handouts are available at the Front Desks this afternoon for residents to pick up and enjoy.
Glendon Kemp
Resident Screening Process Beginning June 8
Independent Living residents may leave campus for essential personal business and medical appointments. Management will not define what is essential. Rather, residents will determine what is essential for them.
• Upon returning to campus, residents should enter the Main Entrance in the lane closest to the Gatehouse for temperature screenings. A log of residents returning to campus will be maintained to help with contact tracing if an outbreak occurs. This applies to all residents, including those driving, walking or biking off campus. If residents return with a fever or symptoms, they will return to their apartment and be evaluated by the Clinic. Temperature screenings will be taken with oral thermometers, as radar thermometers are unreliable for those who have been in a vehicle for any period of time. When Glebe residents return to campus, they should come to the Gatehouse for screening prior to returning to the Glebe.
• If residents travel off campus overnight, for personal or medical reasons, they will go under quarantine and be tested for COVID-19 five days after returning to campus. Once they receive a negative test result, their quarantine will end. If residents do not want to be tested for COVID-19, they must enter 14-day quarantine when returning to campus. Please notify Resident Services at ext. 6082 if you plan to be away overnight.
David Curtis
A Sermon for Every Sunday will air on TV 970 at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 7. Rev. Phillip Martin, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia, will preach.
Isaiah 61:1-4
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
“The Caged Bird” by Maya Angelo
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.