Several residents, staff tests positive for COVID-19 at Mountain View rehab center
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation confirmed Friday several staff and residents at the facility tested positive for COVID-19, but didn't say exactly how many.
The release stated all residents that tested positive have been been grouped together and isolated from others.
Staff who tested positive have been sent home to self-quarantine.
The release stated that the initial case was confirmed May 6. As a result, the facility ordered all employees and staff to be tested.
The tests revealed numerous residents and staff were COVID-19 positive.
Additional staff are still pending and staff members awaiting those results remain at work.
Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation provided the following statement:
On May 6th, after a staff member at the Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation tested positive for COVID-19, swift steps were taken to prevent further spread of the virus. The healthcare worker was quarantined, families of all residents were notified by phone and email and coronavirus tests were ordered for all employees and residents of the facility. The tests revealed numerous residents and staff were COVID-19 positive, and the proper steps were taken to quarantine affected employees, and residents who tested positive were moved into isolation. Additional staff are still pending and staff members awaiting those results remain at work. As per guidelines, local health authorities were on-site to visit our facility after the initial test results were received.
After that first case was confirmed, we ordered universal testing for the facility,” said Gary Blake, president, and co-founder of Creative Solutions in Healthcare, which operates Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation. “Since the onset of the pandemic, we have screened staff and residents for symptoms of the coronavirus, but universal testing allows us to find those who might be asymptomatic.
Strict infection control measures were implemented at the facility in March when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Systems issued aggressive protocols for all skilled nursing facilities.
At the very beginning, we were very aware of the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE),” said Blake. “To ensure we had enough for all our dedicated healthcare workers, we secured our own supply of PPE and have been distributing it to each of our facilities throughout the state. This PPE has been mandatory and available to all staff members since March.
For the latest on COVID-19 in our area and around the world, click here.
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