December 31: COVID-19 Update
On December 30, the Culpeper’s management team became aware of a direct care team member who works on the garden level who tested positive for COVID-19. The team member has been on vacation and hasn’t been in the community since December 24, 2021. The team member will return to the community when return-to-work criteria has been met.
Today, December 31, the management team has learned that two additional direct care team members have tested positive. One team member works on the terrace level and has been testing according to facility protocol due to a previous outside exposure. The team member has not been in the community since December 24, 2021. Therefore, there has been no resident or team member risk identified.
The second team member to test positive works in assisted living and has also been testing according to community protocol due to a previous outside exposure. Both team members will return to the community when return-to-work criteria has been met. Contact tracing has identified four team members who were deemed high risk exposures and one resident as a high-risk exposure, all within assisted living. All identified team members will be tested per CMS guidance testing protocol and will be closely observed for any symptoms of the virus. The exposed resident has been tested and is negative and is currently without symptoms. The identified resident’s representative has been notified.
The Culpeper’s terrace level remains in outbreak testing as previously reported with the next testing date for residents and team members set for January 6, 2021. Garden level residents and team members weekly proactive testing has concluded this week due to two weeks of negative resident testing. Residents and team members on garden level will be tested based on symptoms or exposures. Assisted living residents and team members are being tested based on identified exposures and any occurring symptoms. The leadership team will communicate any further positive cases.
Because all residents remain asymptomatic and have negative testing results, there will be no changes to the visitation policy or to daily care for residents. Communal activities and dining will continue with no changes as previously reported.
All licensing agencies and the Virginia Department of Health have been notified of the positive cases and subsequent actions taken by The Culpeper.
Any team members who are not yet fully vaccinated or have received a medical or religious waiver from LifeSpire of Virginia, will continue to be tested based on the county transmission rate. We will keep you updated on any further positive results and/or protocol changes.
All team members continue to utilize appropriate protective equipment, including masks, and continue to use proper hand washing and hand sanitization techniques.
The Culpeper’s team urges all residents, team members, and visitors to remain vigilant regarding mask-wearing, social distancing, and proper hand hygiene.
Check the COVID-19 communications hub at https://culpeperretirement.org/blog/covid19/ for up to date communications. Executive Director, Jim Jacobsen, is currently out of the office on leave. During his absence, please direct questions submitted via email to Bethany Starkie, Assisted Living Administrator, at [email protected]