Dear beatitudes Families, Residents and Staff,
In just over five months since the first COVID-19 case was identified in Maricopa County, Arizona leads the country in the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases; 25 percent of the state's cases have come in just the last seven days. On Monday, the state surpassed 100,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases for the first time. Arizona has climbed to number 8 in the nation with the most confirmed COVID-19 cases. These are grim statistics, and, as Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said last week, we will continue to see this type of surge in the next few weeks.
As we have said in the past, one of the keys to cutting off new cases includes testing symptomatic people and testing those who may have been in contact with other people who are COVID-19 positive. Here at Beatitudes Campus, we are going a little further – our goal is to test all staff and residents (if they so choose). We have tested (and re-tested in some cases) all residents who live in the Health Care Center (skilled nursing residents and advanced and early memory support residents) and all staff who work there. We are working with the Arizona Department of Health services to test all residents living in Plaza View assisted living; all staff serving that community were tested last week. More than two-thirds of our staff across the campus have been tested and some re-tested. Anyone who tests positive are self-quarantining for 14 days and 72 hours symptom free. Residents who are symptomatic are put into isolation. With all people who test positive, we are conducting contact tracing and notifying those who may have been exposed so they can isolate and monitor for signs and symptoms or get tested.
Early in our testing, we experienced up to 7-10 days before getting results. Now, because we privately contracted with three laboratories to do the testing, thanks to the generosity of donors to the Beatitudes Campus Foundation, we are getting many results in 24-48 hours. Since COVID-19 transmission is so rapid, the longer it takes for us to get test results, our ability to effectively do contact tracing and to isolate people with COVID-19 is hindered. If people don't know they are positive, they don't change their behavior and could potentially spread the virus to others. It's that simple.
As you know, I have been advocating for increased testing for older adults, particularly for those in nursing home settings. A few days ago, I spoke to reporters at the Arizona Republic about testing, and two articles have emerged from my conversations with them. Arizona LeadingAge, our professional organization, has also been a strong voice for increased testing. We have formed a partnership with Arizona State University to do testing with their saliva-based COVID-19 test, and, hopefully, we will be able to initiate more large-scale testing in the next week or two.
In the testing we have done at the campus, we currently have 20 residents with active COVID-19 (8 residents in Vermilion Cliffs Advanced Memory Support neighborhood in the Health Care Center and 12 in the Virginia G. Piper Early Memory Support Neighborhood in the Health Care Center). We currently have 27 staff with active COVID-19 across the campus. You can refer to the dashboard at the end of my letter below for more details. Sadly, and with our deepest sympathy, two residents in the Health Care Center has succumbed to COVID-19 over the past weekend. Both these residents were beloved by the staff, and our condolences are extended to their families during this difficult time.
As more evidence is showing that the coronavirus is transmitted by microfine particles in the air, it is so important that we practice mask-wearing at all times whenever we leave the safe environment of our homes. It is one of the most effective tools we have in not spreading the virus. Mask wearing, along with hand hygiene and social distancing, are our keys to fighting this disease.
Please reach out to us at [email protected] if you have any comments, questions or concerns.
Stay safe. Stay well.
Get involved!
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