On Tuesday, January 19, the country held a national COVID-19 memorial to pay tribute to the more than 400,000 lives lost to COVID-19. Beatitudes Campus participated in the memorial with a remembrance and prayers for those lost to the virus. It was televised on our community channel, along with the ringing of the chimes in our bell tower to remember our beloved residents whom we have lost. This day was especially important, for we grieved and began healing, united in spirit, together. Tuesday also marked the first anniversary of the first reported case of COVID-19 in the United States.
As you know, one of our priorities since the COVID-19 vaccines became available has been to provide vaccines to all staff and residents who want them. We provided the first vaccine dose to our residents and staff in our Skilled Nursing area and Advanced Memory Support area at the end of december and, next week, January 26, they will be receiving their second dose. Also, as we told you last week, all residents and staff in our Assisted Living area and our Independent Living residents will be able to receive their first dose of the vaccine on Tuesday, January 26 (second dose will be administered in February). Our staff have been working around the clock to ascertain who wants a vaccine and to get all the necessary consent forms and health information ready for the clinic on Tuesday. We are incredibly grateful for the partnership with CVS and for Maricopa County to allocate the needed vaccines to Beatitudes Campus. I know that vaccinations will considerably help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the campus. If you have any questions about the vaccine or the clinic, please reach out to [email protected]. We also have resources posted on our website at https://beatitudescampus.org/ under “Information and Links” tab.
Yesterday, Arizona health officials reported 9,398 new COVID-19 cases and 244 additional deaths from COVID-19. That's the highest single-day case report since January 10 and the second consecutive day with more than 240 deaths. As of Wednesday's update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arizona continues to lead the nation in cases per capita over the last seven days with 101.6 cases per 100,000 people. The U.S. average for new cases is 62.8 cases per 100,000 people.
On Monday, January 18 and Thursday, January 21, we conducted staff testing. Four staff had positive test results this week (two Plaza View Assisted Living direct care staff, one Plaza View Assisted Living support staff and one Independent Living support staff). This past week, several staff have recovered and come back. Right now, we have 26 total positive staff. This past week, two Independent Living residents tested positive, several have recovered, and we now have 19 residents with active COVID-19 (none in Skilled Nursing or Advanced Memory Support, 13 residents in Plaza View Assisted Living/Early Memory Support, and six residents in Independent Living). Sadly, this week, we lost four residents due to complications of COVID-19. We will remember these residents and their families, cherish our memories and hold them close in our hearts.
We see great hope and promise in the future, especially with the ability to have vaccination clinics at the campus and with the rollout of a science-based national strategic plan for a COVID-19 pandemic response that will incorporate the needs of state and local communities. We are not out of the woods yet. We must continue to wear a mask, wash our hands, social distance and avoid crowds. Thank you for doing everything you can do to protect yourself, your loved ones and the greater community.
Stay safe.
Michelle Just
President & ceo, Beatitudes Campus
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