COVID-19 Community Letter
November 19, 2020
Dear Residents and Families,
We are writing to provide you additional updates regarding COVID-19, or Coronavirus, and our continued preventive actions.
This letter is to notify you that a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 as of today, November 19, 2020. After an extensive investigation, including contact tracing, it was determined the staff member acquired the virus outside of the facility and the likelihood of him infecting residents is nominal.
We have notified the local and state health officials and will continue to work with the agencies to ensure resident and staff safety. The facility has been conducting weekly testing of staff which is mandated by the state health department. The testing frequency is predicated on our local county positivity rate, which currently is at 9.6%, necessitating weekly testing. We will continue to test all staff per regulation and can utilize our rapid response analyzer for any resident, staff, contractor, etc. exhibiting any signs or symptoms.
We also wanted to take this opportunity to review the facility policy regarding visitation and the upcoming holidays. The facility is currently facilitating outdoor visits in accordance with Washington State’s Safe Start for Long Term Care guidelines. The facility policy is as follows:
Visitation Criteria
The facility will facilitate visits contingent upon the Washington State Safe Start Plan, county positivity rates, availability of PPE supplies, inclement weather and adherence to facility infection control policy and procedures.
Technology-based and in-person window visits
Technology-based and in-person window visits will be available for all residents, families, POA, and guardians during all phases of the Safe Start Plan and regardless of county positivity rates.
Outdoor Visits
Outdoor Visits will be facilitated in all phases of the Safe Start Plan and with a County Positivity Rate of 10% or less. If the county positivity rate rises above the 10% threshold, the facility will restrict visits to window visits or technology-based visits.
Facility Criteria
The facility will provide visitation hours Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am-5pm for outdoor visits. Weekend visits can be scheduled if needed.
Technology based and window visits may occur at any time the resident or family wish to communicate.
The facility will ensure adequate staff are present to assist with outdoor transition of residents/clients, and to assist with disinfection of the visitation area as necessary.
The facility will ensure staff maintain visual observation but provide as much distance as necessary to allow privacy for the resident/client and the visitor(s).
The facility will ensure visitors are screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 at a screening location designated at the front entrance of the facility.
The facility will utilize a Visitor Log to track visitor screening.
Upon successful screening, the facility will provide residents/clients and visitors a surgical mask or greater to be worn at all times unless exempted due to a medical or mental health condition or disability or to facilitate communication with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing.
The facility has designated the space adjacent to the Main Nursing Station as the outdoor visitation area which is accessible without entering the facility.
The visiting area supports social distancing of at least 6 feet between the visitor and resident/client.
The facility will provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer to visitors and provide instruction (e.g., signage, verbal reminders, etc.) on correct use.
As the holiday season approaches, our residents have the right to be with family. We ask that you call the facility to make arrangements for taking your loved one out of the facility. Included with this letter are recommendations for keeping your family and resident safe during the holiday.
Please note: All residents leaving the facility to attend holiday festivities will be tested for COVID-19 upon return and will be temporarily moved to the east hall, which currently serves as our precautions wing, for a period of 14 days and will then return to their original room.
The safety of our residents and families continues to be our top priority and we are doing all we can to protect those we serve.
In the meantime, please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Paul Foltz – Administrator