46 individuals evaluated positive for coronavirus isnRound Rock retirement home April25 (Courtesy Adobe Stock)
The Williamson County and Cities Health District had its first confirmed cluster of COVID-19 in a nursing facility, the district announced April 25.
Executive Director of Williamson County and Cities Health District Derrick Neal said 46 favorable cases of coronavirus have actually been verified in the facility with at least one being a staff member. He included that the county has yet to receive the arise from all the tests administered and anticipates a final count to come Monday.
” We are working closely with the facility to alleviate the spread amongst homeowners and personnel by separating positive citizens,” Neal said. “We believe the preparation and training by the health district and EMS staff to address circumstances such as these will be key in protecting our most susceptible population.”
The exact facility was not determined, however Neal said it is a large center with a minimum of 200 beds. The county started evaluating people the night of April 23 into April 24 once it ended up being conscious of 2 positive cases. Outcomes were reported April 25, he said.
Neal added that at this time the center thinks it has enough area to separate the validated cases from other residents. An overall of 233 tests were administered with some tests coming back unfavorable, he said. There has not been a coronavirus-related death tied to the cluster and this is the only retirement home presently affected at this time, he said.
” Let’s just remain vigilant and safeguard one another,” Neal said.
On April 23, the county also upgraded its control order for nursing homes, helped living facilities, experienced nursing and long-lasting care facilities stating that if there is a validated case of COVID-19 in a facility, all clients, personnel and near relative need to be alerted.
Neal stated all families of those in the center have been alerted.
In Addition, in the event of a cluster at a center including 2 or more patients, the facility:
- will be limited from getting any brand-new patients into the center or any returning clients to the center up until the facility has been cleared by the WCCHD.
- will be needed to offer for testing, if requested, all medical personnel, non-clinical staff, and specialists.
- a “Strike Team” of additional personnel and devices may be released to supplement staffing at your facility until the facility outbreak is controlled as identified by WCCHD.
Neal stated the Strike Group of healthcare workers and epidemiologists continue to work on the case.
In March, Williamson County established a secure isolation unit at the Hearthstone Nursing & Rehab Center of Round Rock to serve senior clients with coronavirus as they are discharged from area healthcare facilities, county authorities stated.
” Our leading priority, from the beginning, has actually been to protect our most susceptible residents,” stated County Judge Bill Gravell in an April 25 press release. “We are putting all of the resources we have offered into separating this cluster so that no others will be contaminated.”
The daily case count is offered on the COVID-19 Control panel that is upgraded each day quickly after midday at www.wcchd.org/COVID-19/ dashboard.php The Epi Curve on the dashboard shows the date of the onset of the disease and not the date reported.
