January 19, 2022
Dear Thompson House Residents, Friends, and Families,
As indicated in this past weekend’s update, we performed a facility-wide round of PCR testing on Tuesday, testing each resident and every member of the staff. Unfortunately, one resident, while completely asymptomatic, has tested positive.
Accordingly, the enhanced safety measures recently enacted — temporarily pausing group activities and communal dining, and the immediate testing of any symptomatic resident or staff member – will remain in place until further notice.
Staff will continue to offer room-to-room service with refreshment carts and will bring DVDs, CDs, puzzles, books and magazines, and other forms of entertainment to each resident throughout the coming days.
Thompson House will continue to provide safe and sanitized spaces if families or residents prefer in-person visits (and continue to encourage social distancing and masking when doing so). However, as community spread is so high at this time we highly encourage phone or video visits as a safer alternative.
While we’re hearing that the Omicron variant has reached its peak and is retreating in some parts of the country, today’s New York Times COVID-19 Positivity Tracker lists Windham County, VT, as yet experiencing extremely high rates of positivity (12%).
According to the Times, “Cases have increased recently and are extremely high. The number of hospitalized COVID patients has also risen in the Windham County area…The test positivity rate in Windham County is very high, suggesting that cases are being significantly undercounted.”
The Infection Prevention Committee and Vermont Department of Health will reevaluate our status throughout the coming days and scheduled PCR testing will take place on Monday, 1/24. We’ll update when we receive the results, or sooner if need be.
As ever, thank you so much for your encouragement, kindness, and understanding, and please reach out to any one of us if you have questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Melissa Osborne, RN, DON
Dane Rank, Administrator
