Memo-Westminster Canterbury’s Next Steps-July 30, 2020
TO: Westminster Canterbury Residents, Employees, Family, Trustees and Friends
FROM: John Burns, President and CEO
SUBJECT: Our Next Steps to Restart, Reengage and Reopen
DATE: July 30, 2020
Download a copy of the memo here.
Westminster Canterbury Richmond is pleased to share updates on our recent Point Prevalence Survey and Outbreak Plan implementation. Thanks to the encouraging results of recent testing, we are able to move forward with the Next Steps outlined in this memo.
Point Prevalence Survey
On July 20 and 21, Westminster Canterbury partnered with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the National Guard to conduct a Point Prevalence Survey (PPS), testing all residents and staff within two days.
• 728 residents and 595 employees were tested, totaling 1,323 tests.
• 1,313 were negative.
• Six tests were voided and retested on Friday. All six were negative.
• Two Parsons Health Center residents who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 came back positive as part of the PPS.
• Two employees tested positive and are at home in quarantine.
If there is an increase in positive cases of COVID-19, we may stop or change processes and services. Some steps are limited by available staffing. We anticipate that we will continue to expand services and visitation as resources allow. Other services that were provided temporarily due to the pandemic will be phased out as we resume normal operations. Thank you for your understanding as we fine-tune these plans. We will follow guidance from the Governor, VDH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as we make our plans.
These test results and next steps are possible thanks to everyone taking personal responsibility. Wearing masks, frequently washing or sanitizing hands and maintaining social distancing are key to controlling the spread.
COVID-19 Outbreak Policy and Plan
The Coronavirus Incident Command Team and Health Services and Assisted Living leadership in collaboration with VDH developed a COVID-19 Outbreak Policy and Plan. This plan would be enacted in the event three or more residents test positive for COVID-19.
A COVID-19 positive unit was created on the third floor of Pavilion, an area of Assisted Living located directly beside Parsons Health Center. Residents who previously lived in this area of Pavilion moved to other areas. In May, we communicated with the affected family members about the potential for these moves. This unit will be open as needed throughout the pandemic.
On Friday, July 24, four residents who had tested positive for COVID-19 moved to Pavilion Third Floor. A dedicated staff team will only work in this area. It will be closed to all residents and staff except the assigned care teams. Since then, two residents have tested negative twice and returned to their homes.
Staff working on this COVID-19 unit with positive residents will be protected with all required personal protective equipment, including wearing special N100 respirators for which they are fit-tested to ensure the best protection, gowns, gloves and eye protection. This protection is challenging to work in for the duration of the shift, but staff have maintained great attitudes and are offering the best care to our residents.
Westminster Canterbury Richmond COVID-19 Cases Summary
Since March, Westminster Canterbury has had confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a total of seven residents and 23 employees. Two Parsons Health Center residents are currently infected and isolated in our COVID-19 positive unit. So far, 16 of the 23 employees have recovered, tested negative twice and are able to return to work. Seven employees are recovering in quarantine. A listing of residents and employees testing positive in July and continuing to recover follows.
Resident Cases in July
• July 8: Resident from Parsons Health Center Second Floor who is improving daily
• July 17: Resident from Parsons Health Center First Floor who has mild symptoms
Employee Cases in July
• July 13: Certified nursing assistant (CNA) who worked on Parsons Health Center Second Floor
• July 20: Genesis Rehab licensed physical therapy assistant (LPTA)
• July 22: CNA on Parsons Health Center Second Floor and overnight Security officer
• July 23: Dining employee
• July 24: Housekeeping employee
Step Five Details – Monday, August 3
Guidelines for Independent Living Residents Traveling Off Campus Overnight
Beginning August 1, Independent Living resident travel guidelines will change. Independent Living residents may travel off campus and are encouraged to continue masking and social distancing. If time away includes traveling by plane, train or bus, there are precautions that must be taken upon return.
• On the first day back in the community, you must be tested for COVID-19. You may call and schedule a time to be tested by our Clinic staff. You may also be tested offsite before returning to the community, including at sites that offer rapid COVID-19 tests, and bring results to the Clinic.
• For the 14 days following return or until negative test results are received, residents should self-quarantine in their apartment.
• If you traveled by other means but return and feel unwell, please stay home and self-quarantine until you can be seen by the Clinic or your physician.
• If you return from travel and have concerns that you might have been exposed or been traveling in a region with high infection rates, we recommend getting tested and following these quarantine guidelines.
• If you did not travel by plane, train or bus, and have no symptoms upon return, you may resume normal activities.
Independent Living Visitation
The last day of structured, scheduled visitation for Independent Living residents will be Tuesday, August 4. Beginning Thursday, August 6, Independent Living family may begin visiting in residents’ apartments or homes on a limited basis, Thursday through Sunday. Visitors must arrive between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visitors arriving after 3 p.m. will not be permitted to enter the community. Visitation in public spaces is not permitted. A maximum of two visitors per resident or resident couple is allowed.
• Visitors must wear a mask at all times in public areas and are required to have a temperature check and question screening upon arrival.
• For Screening: Drive through the Center for Creative Living Entrance loop to short-term parking along the sidewalk. Follow the signs to screening. Please answer screening questions honestly. After question screening and temperature check, you will receive a wristband indicating you have been screened.
• If visitors have a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit or have COVID-19-related symptoms, they will not be permitted to visit that day.
• Return to your vehicle. Tower and Garden visitors will park in the Tower Visitor Lot. Courtyard visitors will park in the East Lot. Visitors to Homes on the Green or The Glebe will park in those areas.
• Visitors are permitted in residents’ homes until 8 p.m.
Assisted Living visitation continues by appointment only. A plan for Parsons Health Center visitation has been created; however, we must wait until we receive guidance from CMS to determine when it may begin. As soon this type of visitation is allowed, we are ready to begin.
These are incremental steps meant to move us safely toward fully reopening. Our programs and services will continue to evolve. Thank you for your care and understanding as we work toward being a community that is safe, healthy and engaged for the duration of the pandemic and beyond.
Ongoing Updates
• The latest news is 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.