May 17, 2022
Dear Families and Friends:
After five weeks with zero cases we’ve now detected one resident and four staff who’ve tested positive for COVID-19. That resident will begin treatment with Paxlovid, the sought-after oral antiviral from Pfizer, this evening.
We are working closely with our Medical Director and the Vermont Department of Health (VDH), who feel confident in our efforts and procedures. Staff are using enhanced PPE precautions and we continue to sanitize/disinfect spaces and equipment multiple times daily and in between use.
Residents will be cohorted (seated together with roommates and/or usual companions) while in the dining room for meals or activities; those who are able will be asked to mask up. We will be antigen-testing all residents tomorrow, 5/18, followed by PCR testing of all staff and residents on 5/19, 5/23, and 5/26. Nurses are monitoring all residents for symptoms and we will antigen-test as needed.
It’s important to note that neither the positive resident nor the affected staff members felt feverish prior to testing positive. A sudden onset of congestion prompted one staff member to seek a test at a local hospital Monday evening (we test all staff on Monday and Thursday mornings); the other three staff members reported coughs and scratchy throats (now the most common presenting symptom according to the VDH) on the day of testing.
No changes to our visitation protocols are anticipated but in light of these developments we once again respectfully ask that you do not visit if you are experiencing any symptoms whatever, and that all visitors remain masked while visiting throughout the facility including while in residents’ rooms, whether the door is open or shut.
If you regularly visit but are unable to access community testing please contact the Director of Nursing.
Please know that we are monitoring the situation closely, are in daily contact with the department of health, and will continue to do all in our power to safeguard the well-being of those entrusted to our care. We will update you with any pertinent information as it is received.
Sincerely,
Dane Rank, Administrator
Melissa Osborne, Director of Nursing
