55 Nursing Home Residents Test Positive for COVID-19

covid-19 file in cabinet with other files Yesterday’s blog post from Messiah Lifeways nursing home revealed 13 more residents have tested positive for COVID-19. This increases the number of active coronavirus cases among residents to 55. There are also 13 staff members at the facility with active cases.

Two residents at the facility died after contracting the virus. Fortunately, nine other residents who contracted the virus at Messiah’s residential, independent living community recovered. Six staff members who contracted the virus have also recovered.

President & CEO Curt Stutzman released a statement today noting those who tested positive were moved to designated COVID-19 care units staffed with specially trained professionals. Stutzman says the facility has taken swift action to contain the spread and is following procedures recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

In the past week, Messiah Lifeways has implemented several mitigation strategies, such as:

Keeping the personal protective equipment (PPE) reserve well-stocked
Designating separate entrances for staffers who work in various nursing neighborhoods
Testing all team members once per week
Retesting all nursing home residents
Installing air scrubbers in the building that was housing nine residents who tested positive

Messiah Lifeways has restricted visitation ever since March. Those in residential living are permitted to have visitors. However, nursing home residents can only talk to residents on the phone or through video chat.

“The health and safety of our residents and team members continues to be our top priority,” said Stutzman.

Unfortunately, Messiah Lifeways is not the only facility in Cumberland County that has experienced a COVID-19 outbreak. Last week, it was announced that four residents of Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Carlisle are quarantining because of positive tests. Just days later, 19 employees and four staff members also tested positive.

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