Memo-COVID-19 Update-June 30, 2020
FROM: John Burns, President and CEO, and Will Blackwell, Vice President Health Services
SUBJECT: Mary Morton Parsons Health Center Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
DATE: June 30, 2020
On Tuesday, June 30, Westminster Canterbury Richmond learned that an employee of Mary Morton Parsons Health Center tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling out of state. This licensed practical nurse worked on Parsons Health Center Second Floor West on June 22 and 23 prior to exhibiting the symptom of loss of smell.
Residents of Parsons Health Center Second Floor continue to be under quarantine per guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These residents will be tested for COVID-19 beginning today.
Currently, there are five additional employees who have exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 and are off campus awaiting the results of testing. The National Guard has been conducting Point Prevalence Surveys at all long-term care facilities in Virginia, testing residents and staff to identify the number of people with COVID-19 at a specific point in time. Westminster Canterbury is in the planning stages with the National Guard to conduct one of these surveys in the coming weeks.
Westminster Canterbury Richmond COVID-19 Response
Since March, Westminster Canterbury has had confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a total of three residents and 13 employees. Two residents live in Independent Living, received treatment in the hospital and returned home to recover in Mary Morton Parsons Health Center. Both subsequently tested negative for COVID-19. The third resident recovered and remains in Parsons Health Center. Employees must test negative for COVID-19 twice with the tests administered at least 24 hours apart prior to returning to work. So far, 11 of the 13 employees have recovered, tested negative twice and returned to work. The other two are recovering at home.
Since the beginning of March, a Coronavirus Task Force comprised of staff from various departments, including an RN Infection Preventionist, met to review existing policies and procedures related to infectious diseases and to plan for other concerns. We follow 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). A Coronavirus Incident Command team meets at least three days a week and additionally as needed to address the latest changes and needs. Every employee is screened with questions and a temperature check upon arrival to campus, prior to reporting to work. Since early April, all employees wear masks at all times to reduce the risk of asymptomatic spread of the virus. Since late May, all residents are required to wear masks in public spaces. We are working diligently to keep residents and employees healthy as we restart, reengage and reopen our campus.
As we continue to investigate and respond, we will share updates.
• The latest news is always available on our blog at www.WCRICHMOND.org.
• Currently, we do live video updates on our in-house TV970 station on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. and other times as needed. The updates include the latest news from John Burns, information on services being provided to residents and family members, and Pastoral Care moments to lift our spirits.
• Recordings of the live video updates are available later on the blog at www.WCRICHMOND.org, at www.facebook.com/wcrichmond, or hourly on TV971 for those on campus.