At Kisco Senior Living, our top priority is and will always be the health and well-being of residents and associates.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Kisco has gone above and beyond to implement protocols that exceed what is required to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and maximize containment. We have conducted more than 120,000 tests using pooled saliva PCR testing on a twice weekly basis across all our communities, which has enabled us to quickly identify positive cases and reduce the spread of the virus. We are not aware of any other senior living providers that have tested this many individuals and done more to protect the safety of residents and associates. Additionally, we have been transparent in our communication, keeping residents, their families and our associates informed as state and local guidance changed and the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention evolved.
And now we are committed to getting our residents and associates vaccinated. I am pleased to report more than 4,000 residents and associates have received at least their first shot of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccinations, and we anticipate that nearly 90% of all our residents will be vaccinated by the end of February.
While the combination of frequent testing and vaccination creates a much safer environment, COVID-19 will still exist in our local market areas. Scientific research has shown that while the current vaccinations available in the United States are highly effective in reducing the likelihood of getting seriously ill from COVID-19, there is no definitive research yet that shows that the vaccine prevents individuals from contracting or spreading the virus.
Kisco has always been guided by the science, and we will continue to monitor the latest research updates. Since many new residents and associates will be joining our communities prior to vaccination, we will continue to require mask wearing, hand washing and other safety protocols for the foreseeable future. As a greater percentage of residents and associates become vaccinated, we will open up more dining options and wellness programs – always keeping in mind the balance of quality of life with safety.
As we have throughout this nearly year-long pandemic, we will lean on our Kisco Confidence pillars — safety and security, trust and transparency, health and wellbeing and a five-star lifestyle experience – to give our residents and associates peace of mind knowing that we are creating the safest possible environment for them to live and to work.
We are hopeful that with ongoing testing, vaccinations and staying vigilant in our protocols, there is light at the end of this year-long tunnel.
Andy Kohlberg
President & CEO