Dear Residents, Families, and Associates of First Colonial Inn,
The results from our 8th round of COVID-19 Pooled Testing came back negative! We thank everyone for their continued participation in this testing program. 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. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday/FedEx availability our testing schedule will be altered this week. ALL residents, associates and essential visitors currently participating in the testing will participate tomorrow, Monday, 11/23. The testing will be held in the Chesapeake Dining Room from 10am-1pm. We will not be conducting a 2nd day of testing this week.
In the past rounds, when all residents test on Thursdays, we have been able to accomplish the testing via 3 groups. The 3 groups have consisted of one group comprised of our associates along with the essential visitors and employees of Silver Strands Salon and Genesis Rehab, a second group consisting of residents who have not left the community within the past two weeks and a third group of those residents who have left the community. Each group has the maximum capacity of 100 as directed by the lab which we utilize. In this round, conducted this past Thursday, we collected saliva samples from 4 groups, a total of 231 people. It was necessary for us to add the additional group as we had over 100 residents leave the community within the past two weeks.
We are very happy that this testing has allowed our residents the option and flexibility to come and go without having to come home to a shelter in place restriction. That being said, the virus is still very alarming and active cases are on the rise again in our area. Due to the precautions everyone has been taking we have been very fortunate to have only experienced minimal isolated cases among our associates and we have not had any residents contract the virus. Proper social distancing, mask use, hand hygiene and ongoing health monitoring, along with making safe decisions about where to go out, can provide an excellent line of defense in the fight against Covid-19. Our resident population remains vulnerable to the adverse effects of COVID so everything that we can do together, both inside and outside the community, to minimize the risk is necessary and appreciated.
As we approach Thanksgiving many of us are having to make tough decisions regarding our traditional gatherings based on the rising statistics, along with the reinstatement of COVID-related restrictions by Governor Northam. We are excited to be able to host Thanksgiving Day dining service in the Water’s Edge Dining Room! While many residents have shared their plans to spend the day with family, we have 80 residents who have chosen to dine with us on Thanksgiving Day. If you were planning on going out and your plans have now changed please let the Front Desk know if you would like to be added to the waiting list for the option to dine in Water’s Edge. We will confirm available seating times on Tuesday for those residents who have opted to join the waiting list.
As a reminder, 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. If you would like to make an appointment for a Visit Station please call the front desk at 757-428-2884 or email the team at fci.reception@kiscosl.com. We require all visitors to properly wear a mask at all times and observe proper social distancing while on the property, both outside and inside, and we ask that the front entry way/drop off table area remain free and clear from congregation so that there is safe ease of access in and out of the community.
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.
Sincerely,
Chrissy Driscoll
Executive Director