Memo-COVID-19 Update-August 28, 2020
FROM: Will Blackwell, Vice President Health Services, and Sloan Verlander, Administrator Assisted Living
SUBJECT: COVID-19 Update
DATE: August 28, 2020
We are pleased to share good news regarding COVID-19 at Westminster Canterbury Richmond. We are committed to continued transparency about our COVID-19 response and cases in our residents and staff. We are taking many precautions and following the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH). There have been no confirmed new cases of COVID-19 among our residents and staff this week.
Mary Morton Parsons Health Center Update
As of today, two residents who were being cared for in the COVID-19 positive unit received their second negative test results and will be returning home to Parsons Health Center. One resident from Parsons Health Center Second Floor continues to recover in the COVID-19 positive unit. This unit is closed to all residents and staff except the assigned care teams that only work in this area.
Parsons Health Center residents and staff have been tested on an ongoing basis per the recommendations from CMS. Last week, we tested 189 employees and 136 residents for COVID-19, and all the results were negative. Testing continues this week, and all the results received so far have been negative.
Due to exposure to an employee who tested positive for COVID-19, portions of Parsons Health Center remain under quarantine. Parsons Health Center First Floor quarantine ends Tuesday, September 1. Parsons Health Center Second Floor West quarantine ends Thursday, September 3. Parsons Health Center remains closed to visitors.
Avalon Update
Avalon residents have been under quarantine due to exposure to an employee who later tested positive for COVID-19. This quarantine will end on Saturday, August 29. During the quarantine, residents have been monitored daily with temperature and symptoms screenings and checking lung sounds and oxygen levels. Anyone exhibiting symptoms is tested for COVID-19. No one has tested positive during the quarantine.
Employee Cases
Every employee is screened with questions about symptoms and exposure and a temperature check upon arrival to campus, prior to reporting to work. When employees are unable to come to work due to experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, they seek testing off campus and do not return until they receive a negative result. We are making changes to schedules to reduce the risk of exposure throughout our community. The following employees were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 and continue recovering in quarantine.
• August 7: Housekeeping employee on Parsons Health Center Second Floor
• August 17: Housekeeping employee who worked on all floors of Avalon and Parsons Health Center First Floor
Westminster Canterbury Richmond COVID-19 Cases Summary
Since March, Westminster Canterbury has had confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a total of 13 residents and 28 employees. Twelve residents have recovered. One Parsons Health Center resident is currently isolated in our COVID-19 positive unit. So far, 26 of the 28 employees have recovered, tested negative twice and returned to work. Two employees are still recovering in quarantine.
Keys to Keeping Our Community Healthy
Wear a mask correctly. Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer frequently. Maintain social distancing of six feet or more from others everywhere you go. Stay home if you do not feel well. Thank you for all you do to protect yourselves and those around you!
Ongoing Updates
• The latest news and past updates are always available on our blog at www.WCRICHMOND.org.
• Live video updates air on our in-house TV970 station on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. and other times as needed. Recordings are available later on www.WCRICHMOND.org, www.facebook.com/wcrichmond, or hourly on TV971 on campus.