February 11, 2022
Dear Families and Friends,
It’s been a good week here at Thompson House and we are happy to report that the two residents who were positive for COVID have completed their isolation periods and had an uncomplicated, minimally symptomatic course of treatment. There are currently no residents on quarantine or positive at this time!
This week we also performed two rounds of staff and resident PCR testing. Monday revealed one positive staff member, and Thursdays revealed another. Thankfully, they did not have close contact with residents, are experiencing light symptoms and will rejoin the team after quarantining.
Great news! Vermont DPH recommendations have shifted a bit and if residents are fully vaccinated with a booster, they do not need to quarantine if they had contact with a positive individual. This allows our residents to have a better quality of life and reduces risks of emotional and physical concerns. We are, however, remaining vigilant and are monitoring residents at least twice daily for signs and symptoms, temp, and oxygen. We have a sufficient supply of rapid antigen tests and are utilizing them with a very low threshold for symptom monitoring.
While we’ve all heard that Omicron’s grip is loosening, and it is, it ain’t over yet, as the saying goes. Particularly so for the unvaccinated. Here is today’s update from the New York Times:
“Unvaccinated people in Windham County are at a very high risk for Covid-19 infections. The average number of new cases in Windham County fell to 10 yesterday, a 24 percent decrease from the day before. Since January 2020, at least 1 in 8 people who live in Windham County have been infected, and at least 1 in 1,279 people have died.”
We’ll update you all again next week. Until then, thank you. When you follow the rules, which you do like troupers, you’re actively helping to keep all of our residents, your folks and your neighbor’s folks, as safe as possible.
Be well,
Melissa Osborne, RN, DON
Dane Rank, Administrator
