Since learning of a staff-member testing positive for COVID-19 on September 19, 2020, the testing of all Pines residents in the home area where the employee worked has been completed. All residents have tested negative. Testing of all staff has been underway again this week and is nearing completion. About 20% of staff testing results have been received to date and all are negative.
Out of an abundance of caution it is necessary to maintain the suspension of all resident visits. Enhanced protocols for the cleaning of high touch surfaces and resident living areas continues.
The District remains focused on protecting residents and staff at the Pines Long-Term Care Home from COVID-19 and extensive measures are being taken to ensure the health, safety of wellbeing of residents and staff remain in place.
Regular updates continue to be provided to residents, their families, and staff along with regular updates to the community.
How can the community help? Take extra care
According to SMDHU, community spread of the COVID-19 has sharply risen to numbers not seen since the spring and they are asking the public to shrink their social circles as much as possible to those within their own household and to be cautious to reduce their exposure within the community.
SMDHU has provided the following steps to keep everyone safe, including those returning to school and those living in long-term care homes:
- Shrink your close contacts (the people you can get close to such as hugging and touching) as much as possible to only those people within your own household and those whose well-being requires or is dependent on it.
- Think carefully about how often and where you go out to in the public, and try to limit to what is essential and avoid crowded spaces.
- Limit social gatherings, and keep the number of people in your gatherings and get-togethers to 10 people or less indoors, or 25 or less outdoors; with people outside of your household, practice physical distancing, or wear a mask if you can’t.
- Parents should screen children for symptoms of COVID-19 every day before they leave for school; if a child has even one symptom, they should stay home and self-isolate, and get tested.