June 22, 2020
Dear Beatitudes Families, Residents and Staff,
Arizona is seeing an alarming resurgence of COVID-19 and has now passed the 54,000 mark in confirmed cases. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported an additional 2,196 cases today, increasing the statewide total to 54,586. The percentage of tests reporting positive results in Maricopa County is also rising, reaching 10.3 percent – a sign that the community spread of the virus is wide.
On Saturday, June 20, a resident from our Vermilion Cliffs Advanced Memory Support neighborhood tested positive for COVID-19. Another resident from the same neighborhood tested positive today, June 22. Both residents were transferred to the Isolation Unit in the Health Care Center as soon as they showed symptoms earlier last week. The entire Vermilion Cliffs neighborhood is being closely monitored for fevers and signs/symptoms of COVID-19.
Also, this afternoon, June 22, we received notice that a caregiver from the Early Memory Support neighborhood tested positive for COVID-19. The caregiver’s last shift at the campus was Friday, June 19. At this time, no other staff or residents are symptomatic.
As is our protocol for the past three-plus months, we are in close contact with the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and following their recommendations. We are still awaiting results of the COVID-19 testing (viral-nose swab test) that was administered to 166 Health Care Center staff. The slower pace of obtaining results from the mass testing of staff and residents is because such testing of large groups of people is coordinated by a lab contracted by the Arizona Department of Health Services. Individual resident tests get quicker results because results go directly to Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
Our prayers and thoughts are with all of our residents and staff and their families.
As we have done from the beginning, Beatitudes Campus is screening all staff, essential health care workers and vendors for temperatures and symptoms before they step foot on campus and are requiring everyone – staff and residents – to wear a mask or cloth face covering. We can’t emphasize enough how important it is for all of us to wear a mask when out in public. Last Friday, the Phoenix City Council approved an ordinance for the mandatory wearing of masks or face coverings when people leave their homes, as did most cities in the Phoenix area. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to update their mask-wearing guidance as the results of their study on the benefits masks to prevent the spread and to protect individuals who wear them.
[Tuesday], June 23, is a day of national action for those of us who serve older adults. As you know, COVID-19 has been especially dangerous for older people in this country. Beatitudes Campus as well as organizations like ours have been working hard to ensure that our residents are safe and healthy – but we need help. That’s why we’re joining the nationwide “Act For Older Adults” campaign! We’re joining forces with other nursing homes, senior living communities and other aging services providers around the county to demand that Congress include comprehensive relief measures to safeguard older adults and care workers. I invite you to join me in making our voices heard in Washington, by talking to your member of Congress. Sign up at: https://p2a.co/0h8JiM2, and let our voices be heard!
Please know that keeping residents and staff safe is our top priority. We will be updating you twice weekly with a report on the status of testing and cases at Beatitudes Campus. If, however, one of our residents or staff tests positive in your modality (Independent Living, Assisted Living and Health Care Center), we will send you a message within 24 hours. We post all of our letters on the Beatitudes Campus COVID-19 Update website: https://beatitudescampus.org/beatitudes-family/. You can always check that page for any updates.
Thank you for your support of Beatitudes Campus during this pandemic. If you have any questions, please send an email to [email protected]. Stay safe and stay well.
My best,
Michelle L. Just, President and CEO
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