Memo-COVID-19 Update-January 22, 2021
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: January 22, 2021
As we look forward to next week’s second vaccination clinic, we are grateful for the strong and resilient Westminster Canterbury Richmond community!
Mary Morton Parsons Health Center
Today, Westminster Canterbury Richmond learned that a Parsons Health Center Third Floor resident tested positive for COVID-19 during this week’s routine testing. This resident moved to the COVID-19 positive unit where a total of four residents are being cared for by a dedicated team that works only in this unit. Yesterday, we learned that a Parsons Health Center Private Duty Sitter tested positive for COVID-19.
Sadly, one of our Parsons Health Center residents who tested positive for COVID-19 passed away this week. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.
Parsons Health Center residents and employees will receive their second vaccination doses on January 25-26. Third Floor will remain in quarantine until Thursday, February 4. First Floor continues in quarantine until Saturday, January 23.
Assisted Living
This week we learned that an employee of The Gables tested positive for COVID-19. Monticello is in quarantine until Saturday, January 23. The Gables will remain in quarantine. Vaccination for Assisted Living in partnership with CVS Health is scheduled to begin earlier than originally planned, on Tuesday, January 26. Vaccination clinic details are being shared directly with Assisted Living residents, family members and medical Powers of Attorney.
Independent Living
Vaccination for Independent Living in partnership with CVS Health is scheduled to begin on February 15-16. Resident Services will share more detailed instructions and consent forms closer to this date. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
If a resident decides to pursue vaccination outside of Westminster Canterbury, you will need to commit to completing your two-dose series with that provider. Vaccination is traced through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), so it is important to start and end your doses with the same provider.
Veterans who live in Independent Living may qualify to get their COVID-19 vaccination through the Veterans Health Administration (VA). You must be in the Richmond VA Medical Center computer system to be eligible for the vaccine. To check to see if you are eligible, call 804-675-6660. Once you confirm your eligibility, you may call the VA at 804-675-5000 to register for a vaccine appointment. Press 0 to speak to someone without waiting through the prompts. You must have transportation to and from the appointment. If you need transportation, you may call our transportation department to schedule an appointment at ext. 6263.
Residents are welcome to pursue these other methods of vaccination by signing up through the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website or checking with your primary care physician. If you are an Independent Living resident and you decide to pursue vaccination outside of Westminster Canterbury, please notify the Clinic once you are vaccinated so we can keep track of how many people need to be vaccinated in February.
We remain in close contact with VDH to explore possible ways for vaccination to happen sooner and will provide updates when possible.
Other Employee Cases
On Monday, we learned that a Security employee tested positive for COVID-19. Many employees who previously tested positive have recovered and returned to work. Eight employees tested positive for COVID-19 and are recovering in quarantine.
Follow the Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention
Westminster Canterbury follows the latest guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and VDH in our response to the pandemic. Please take special care to stay home, monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19 and follow these guidelines to help protect yourself and others. Always wear a mask when around others. Wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer. Always maintain social distancing of at least six feet. Stay home if you do not feel well and contact your physician. In-person gatherings with individuals outside your household are discouraged. Stay connected by phone or in virtual ways. We will get through this together!
Ongoing Updates
• Stay up to date on www.WCRICHMOND.org with the COVID-19 Update page and blog.
• Live Update videos air on our in-house TV970. Recordings are available on www.WCRICHMOND.org, www.facebook.com/wcrichmond or TV971 daily at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Our next Live Update is Tuesday, January 26, at 3 p.m.
Thank you!