Memo-COVID-19 Update-December 23, 2020
FROM: John Burns, President and CEO; Will Blackwell, Vice President Health Services; Debra Jacobsen, Administrator Residential Living; and Sloan Verlander, Administrator Assisted Living
SUBJECT: COVID-19 Update
DATE: December 23, 2020
Merry Christmas from Westminster Canterbury Richmond! This week we share holiday greetings and the latest information on COVID-19 vaccination and cases in our community.
COVID-19 Vaccination Updates
Please refer to Westminster Canterbury’s COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions. We will provide updates as we receive more details from CVS Health, our COVID-19 vaccine provider.
COVID-19 Cases
We are pleased to share that we are not aware of any active cases of COVID-19 in residents on our campus. Routine testing for Mary Morton Parsons Health Center residents and employees continues twice weekly per guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
On Sunday, December 20, we learned that a Parsons Health Center nurse tested positive for COVID-19. We expect that the risk of exposure is low. Six employees who tested positive for COVID-19 are recovering at home in quarantine.
Visitation, Programs and Services
Westminster Canterbury follows the latest guidance from CMS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) in our response to the pandemic. Visitation and many programs and services are currently suspended. Westminster Canterbury has no immediate plans to resume visitation due to new cases in our community and rising infection rates in the Richmond region.
Family and friends who need to deliver items for residents may come to the Tower Entrance. Courtesy Services will be available to accept the delivery and take it to the resident, or residents may accept the delivery in person. This service is available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Follow the Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention
Please continue following these guidelines that help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Wear a mask at all times when around others. Always carry a mask with you. Wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer. Always maintain social distancing of at least six feet. Follow enhanced safety and disinfection recommendations from the CDC, CMS and VDH. Stay home if you do not feel well and contact your physician. Throughout the holiday season, in-person gatherings with individuals outside your household are discouraged. Stay connected and celebrate by phone or in virtual ways. Thank you for all you do!
Ongoing Updates
• Stay up-to-date with us online. Check the COVID-19 Update page and blog at www.WCRICHMOND.org.
• Live Update videos air on our in-house TV970. Recordings are available later on www.WCRICHMOND.org, www.facebook.com/wcrichmond or on TV971 daily at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Our next Live Update is Tuesday, December 29, at 3 p.m.