Beatitudes Community

COVID-19 Update for June 24

Dear Beatitudes Residents, Families and Staff,

In Arizona, there are 59,974 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and nearly one-third of those have been reported in the last seven days. Arizona set its single-day high for the greatest number of new cases yesterday, June 23, with 3,591. Today, another 1,795 new cases were reported. In Maricopa County alone, 10.9% of all tests are returning with positive results. Arizona is seeing an alarming number of new cases since the stay-at-home order was lifted on May 15.

As you know, Beatitudes Campus worked with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and had the entire Health Care Center tested – residents were given the viral (nose swab) test and staff were given the antibody test. Last Tuesday, the staff was given the viral COVID-19 test. We have five tests still pending results, but of the 166 staff who were tested, 150 were negative and 11 were positive. Of the 11 positive tests, 2 were caregivers, 7 were direct care health care workers, 1 was a dining aide and 1 was a contract therapist. All staff who tested positive are in quarantine at home and will remain in quarantine for a minimum of 14 days and will not return to the campus until they are symptom free for 72 hours after the quarantine. We continue to do contact tracing to identify staff and residents with whom these staff members had interactions. The Beatitudes at Home (BAH) caregivers saw 19 Independent Living Residents and we have contacted all of the residents. If you or your loved one was not contacted, your loved one has had no contact with the COVID-19 cases. No resident who had contact with the BAH caregivers has shown any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

I know that these testing results may seem discouraging. We have always said that the campus would not be immune to having COVID-19 cases. Our staff, all of whom are essential, spend their work hours ensuring the safety of our residents and other staff, and then go home to take care of their families, are in a high-risk category of contracting COVID-19. We do symptom checking of every staff member before they step foot on campus. We mandate mask wearing and distancing and encourage hand-washing and staying away from crowds. But the coronavirus doesn't care who it infects. Keeping all staff and all residents as safe as possible is our top priority.

We continue to do more testing of staff and residents. Today, 58 staff members from the Bistro were tested with the viral nose swab test. We should be receiving results within 48 hours of those tests. We are also forging ahead with re-testing residents and staff in the Health Care Center. This week, our professional organization, Arizona LeadingAge, is in process of signing a contract with ASU Biodesign Institute for additional testing, using the saliva test. Our plan is to have every resident and every staff member receive a COVID-19 test.

We want to let you know that a resident in our Vermilion Cliffs neighborhood has succumbed to COVID-19 yesterday, June 23. We are so saddened, yet we are blessed to have known this beautiful individual and honored to serve this resident. The resident had underlying conditions and was receiving comfort care prior to the COVID-19 diagnosis. Our hearts and prayers go out to the resident's and friends.

Beatitudes Campus continues to focus on ensuring the safety and well-being of all our residents and staff members. We continue to follow the protocols and recommendations of Centers for and Medicare Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

As always, we strive for transparency in everything we do. We are communicating all updates to residents, families, staff and greater community through a multitude of ways, including electronic media, webpage (https://BeatitudesCampus.org/Beatitudes-Family/) and data dashboard. We update our residents daily through the Community Channel and you can view the updates on the Beatitudes Campus YouTube channel.

Thank you for trusting us to keep your loved one safe. We are Beatitudes Strong!

My best,

Michelle Just, President and CEO

Author Info: Michelle Just
Michelle Just is the President & CEO of Beatitudes Campus, a team member since August 2000.

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