Dear Residents, Staff, and Friends:
In our local community, the number of COVID-19 cases has increased. Fortunately, Miona Geriatric and Dementia Center has not had a resident case of COVID-19 since April 18, 2020. Since that date there have been staff members that have tested positive for the virus, but have not transmitted the virus to any residents or to any other staff member.
Early this week, Miona learned that a staff member also worked in another community health care facility and potentially was exposed to a resident in that facility who later tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member reported this event to Miona and the staff member was instructed not to return to work until the staff member had been tested. The staff member tested negative. Unfortunately, the entity that administered the test contacted the staff member and asked the staff member to be retested a second time as some other staff at that facility, who tested negative initially, later developed symptoms of COVID-19. The staff member was tested a second time and this time the results were positive for COVID-19.
Although the exposure of this staff member to COVID-19 occurred at another facility, For full transparency, Miona desires to report this issue to residents, staff, and the community. This staff member did work one and one half days between the time the staff member tested negative and the second testing which ultimately was positive. The staff member has not been symptomatic of COVID-19, nor has he taken any mediations to eliminate any signs or symptoms.
The facility staff sanitizes common areas in the facility three times per day. All staff wear N95 masks at all times and washes their hands prior to and after any resident contact. Residents’s hands are also being sanitized no less than three time per day. Each resident who had any contact with this staff member will be retested for COVID-19. If the staff member is contagious, it is the hope the precautions in place will reduce or eliminate transmission.
No residents or staff member at this time exhibit any signs or symptoms of this virus. COVID-19 can simply spread, even when routine screening and testing is performed. Unfortunately, it is becoming more obvious that testing is a tool for determining the virus, but testing is not 100% assurance that someone is or is not infected. Social distancing, washing hands, and wearing masks continue to be necessary to stop the spread of this virus.
The facility will continue to monitor and update each of you as the situation necessitates.
If you would like additional COVID-19 information related to Miona or other nursing facilities in Georgia, please visit the following address:
https://dch.georgia.gov/announcement/2020-05-12/long-term-care-facility-covid-19-report
