Dear Residents, Families, and Associates of First Colonial Inn,
I have great news to share again in that the results of our 2nd round of COVID-19 Pooled Testing came back negative! In this round we collected saliva samples from three groups on Thursday, a total of 128 people. One resident group was comprised of residents who have left the community within the last 2 weeks while the other was comprised of residents who have chosen to stay within the community. The third group was comprised of our associates along with the employees of Silver Strands Salon and Genesis Rehab.
As we continue to receive negative results this allows us to keep the shelter in place restrictions lifted for any resident who leaves the community, whether on their own or in our transportation, as long as they participate in the Pooled Testing twice weekly (Monday and Thursday) for two weeks following any outing. Residents who choose to stay within the community are asked to participate in the Pooled Testing once per week (Thursday). As shared previously, with adequate participation in Pooled testing, we can detect Covid-19 very early, isolate any positive individual(s), minimize the spread to others, and eliminate the requirement for residents who leave the community to shelter in place.
At this time there we are still limiting visits to the community (indoors and outdoors) to approved Essential Visitors only and/or via the usage of the Indoor or Outdoor Visit Stations. We soon hope to have the ability to roll out a program that will allow us to safely invite family members to visit their loved ones in the community! We look forward to sharing more information in the coming weeks.
Another exciting project we are working on now is the planning for the upcoming reopening of the Water’s Edge Dining Room. We will be offering modified seatings to ensure safe distancing while allowing residents to enjoy meals while enjoying each other’s company. In preparation for this we will be sending out a survey early next week to all residents to assist us in getting an idea as to which meals residents will prefer to eat in the dining room versus receiving delivery. I thank you in advance for your participation!
Please keep in mind that it is very important to note that in order for this program to be effective, your participation in this simple, non-invasive testing is critical. Thank you for your support, and please remember that while this testing can provide an excellent line of defense in the fight against Covid-19, this can only work if we continue to be vigilant with social distancing, mask use, hand hygiene, and ongoing health monitoring.
We thank all of you for your continued support of FCI as we navigate through this pandemic together. Our continued positive thoughts and prayers for everyone’s good health are with each of you. Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions. We appreciate your questions, feedback, and support.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween weekend—I hope you enjoy the pictures on the back side of this letter showcasing the FCI Halloween spirit!
Sincerely,
Chrissy Driscoll
Executive Director