Live Update to Residents-October 29, 2020
Live updates to residents on our in-house TV970 keep us informed and connected on Thursdays at 3 p.m. Today’s update featured John Burns, President and CEO; Debra Jacobsen, Administrator Resident Services; and Logan Augustine, Chaplain.
The following updates were shared during the briefing.
John Burns
Assisted Living Update
On Monday, a nurse who works the night shift in Assisted Living tested positive for COVID-19. She last worked on Thursday, October 22. This employee does not have a high level of interaction with residents. After completing contact tracing, we did not have to ask any residents to quarantine. We tested a small number of employees who may have had contact with this employee. We anticipate that the risk of exposure is minimal and are monitoring the situation.
Three employees continue to recover off campus in quarantine. At any given time, a number of staff present with symptoms and need to be tested. A newer development is that more employees are being exposed to others who test positive for COVID-19, and they also quarantine while awaiting test results. Please remember that the virus is very active in our area, and we will likely have more cases. Please protect yourself.
Focused Infection Control Survey
On Tuesday, October 27, Mary Morton Parsons Health Center had our fifth Infection Control Prevention Survey from the Virginia Department of Health. One surveyor was on campus dressed in full personal protective equipment (PPE) and made rounds on all three floors, finding no issues. The surveyor was very complimentary of our staff and infection control practices and procedures.
We also had one surveyor virtually who reviewed resident records and employee records for testing. There were no issues with employee testing. They shared a concern related to the timing of resident testing after a known exposure to a staff member. We may not have tested on the correct date based on their recommendations. We are awaiting the results of the survey. It is important to note that at the time of the testing in question, we had no residents with COVID-19 nor did any residents subsequently tested positive.
Since June 1, Westminster Canterbury has conducted 3,445 staff tests for COVID-19. We also completed 1,831 resident tests for COVID-19. Testing is important and the frequency of future testing will be based on positivity rates in our region.
Follow the Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention
Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its definition for close contacts, or people who would be considered to be exposed if they have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The old definition was that close contact was spending more than 15 consecutive minutes within 6 feet of an infected person. Now it is spending a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period within 6 feet.
This confirms how important it is to follow the guidelines. Wear a mask at all times when around others. Wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer. Always maintain social distancing of at least six feet or more.
Live Update Schedule Change
Next week we will move to our new schedule of one Live Update per week, on Thursdays, at 3 p.m.
Debra Jacobsen
Election Day
All Henrico County voters residing at Westminster Canterbury may vote from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Cochrane Commons on Tuesday, November 3. For your safety and in order to keep each area of living from overlapping, we developed a voting schedule.
All Independent Living residents should plan to vote between 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. All Assisted Living and Parsons Health Center residents should plan to vote between 1 to 4 p.m. Please enter through the set of doors nearest the Center Lobby and exit through the doors closest to the Foundation Hall after you cast your vote. If you applied for an absentee ballot, we strongly encourage you to return your completed ballot by placing it in the locked drop box that will be onsite on Tuesday, November 3.
Residents may bring their uncompleted absentee ballot with them to the polls. Poll workers will have the ability to void the ballot via computer at the precinct (instead of having to call the Registrar’s Office per resident) and will be able to administer the resident a ballot to vote in person.
All Virginia voters are required to show photo identification. If you do not have a valid form of photo ID, you can obtain a free photo ID (for voting purposes only) at the Office of Voter Registration.
If you have any specific questions, please contact the Henrico Office of Voter Registration at (804) 501-4347.
Election Security
Many are concerned about the potential for civil unrest related to the upcoming election. Although we do not expect civil unrest to impact our campus, we recognize the potential is slightly raised with this election. Plans are in place with the Security Department and Henrico County Police to handle these situations if needed.
Vehicle Standards
During the lockdown, Virginia put a moratorium on state vehicle inspections. There are many resident vehicles in our parking lots with expired inspections, registrations or handicap decals. Please make plans to update these as needed.
Logan Augustine
Pastoral Care Update
Please join us on TV970 on Sunday, November 1, at 4 p.m. for our prerecorded All Saints’ Day service as we remember and honor those in our community who have died in the past year. The service will be shown in place of A Sermon for Every Sunday. The All Saints’ Day service will be shown again on TV970 on Friday, November 6, at 3 p.m.
James 1:19-20
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
From the Book of Common Prayer
Pray for the nation
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Pray for every human heart
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pray for those who influence public opinion
Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.