Dear All Residents, Associates and Families of Byron Park;
As promised, we will continue to share important information as soon as we can to ensure everyone is informed and prepared. This letter is to update you on a status change of the COVID-19 cases at our community. We have received notification of a secondary associate with a presumptive positive test result for Covid-19 today. In partnership with our associate and Public Health we have identified the origin of exposure to be outside of Byron Park. This associate will continue to remain out of the community and at home for 14 days.
As noted in our initial notice the following has taken place prior to this letter being sent to you. The healthcare authorities including community care licensing were notified. A full review and notification to any individuals who may have had exposure has been completed. If you were not notified by phone of possible exposure you either did not encounter this associate or your interaction did not meet the criteria of exposure. Based on our current protocols, with associates wearing protective equipment (PPE) following CDC guidelines, we are confident of minimal exposure. In accordance with patient privacy laws, additional details about the patient and updates on their condition will be provided only by healthcare authorities.
The protocols that we put into place earlier, continue to remain in place. These include restricting visitors, monitoring each resident and associate for temperature and respiratory symptoms, suspending all meal service and activities, and increased disinfecting of all high-traffic/high-touch areas and the suspension any new move-ins for 14 days and will reevaluate at that time.
For the safety of all residents, we will continue to require all residents to quarantine in their apartments and have provided masks for residents to wear as well. The measures we implemented over the last two weeks are aligned with requirements to manage an active COVID-19 case. Keeping maximum safety protocols in place are necessary and the reason we continue to have no residents suspected to have exposure risk from the affected individual.
Naturally, the question about mass resident or associate testing will be asked again. I would like to provide the answer. Currently, this is neither recommended nor possible. This topic was covered at length with our designated Public Health Nurse today. The availability and determination for COVID-19 tests are not controlled by our community or company. Until tests are widely available to the public and communities like ours, we continue to follow the protocols set by the CDC and will refer residents and staff to their PCP or health provider if symptoms are exhibited that are related to the virus.
We are working with local and state health authorities, as well as following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We will continue to provide regular updates on what we can do to protect our residents, associates and greater community to prevent the spread of the virus.
At Byron Park, our focus is and will always be the health and well-being of our residents and our associates. We understand that you may have questions and concerns, please reach as those arise. I will continue to keep you informed with updated information as it becomes available. Thank you for your constant support and partnership as we navigate this unprecedented time together.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Pastora
Executive Director, Byron Park
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
https://covid19.ca.gov/