December 8: COVID-19 Update
The Culpeper team is pleased to report that the community has gone without positive COVID-19 test results within our residents and team members, with the exception of the outside vendor who was reported last week. We thank you for your ongoing support.
With that, the team has become aware of a team member who works within the terrace level on Main and Davis Street neighborhood, who has tested positive for COVID-19 after becoming symptomatic. The team member has been asked to quarantine at home until return-to-work criteria are met. In addition, one independent living cottage resident has also tested positive and has been asked to quarantine at home. Contact tracing was completed for both cases with no direct resident or team member high-risk exposures identified.
Due to the positive independent living cottage resident case being determined as an isolated incident, no changes are needed to independent living, assisted living or memory support neighborhoods at this time.
Related to the positive team member case on the terrace level, recently released guidance by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allows visitation to continue. During times of positive cases going forward, visitation will continue. Information identifying that a positive case has occurred is posted at the front entrance for visitor notification.
All terrace level residents were tested today with no additional positive results. Team member testing continues with all negative results currently. Additional positive results will be communicated.
No residents or team members are exhibiting signs of COVID-19. All licensing agencies and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) have been notified of the positive case and subsequent actions taken by The Culpeper. All residents on the terrace level are under close observation. Communal dining and activities continue without changes. All team members working on the terrace level in all neighborhoods have upgraded their protective equipment use to KN95 masks or higher and continue to use proper hand washing and hand sanitization techniques.
All terrace level residents and team members will now be tested once a week until two weeks of consecutive negative results are received, per VDH and CMS guidelines. The next planned terrace level team member and resident testing will be held on Wednesday, December 15. Any team members who are not yet fully vaccinated or have received a medical or religious waiver from LifeSpire will continue to be tested based on the county transmission rate. The Culpeper team will keep you updated on any further positive results and/or protocol changes.
All residents and team members are urged to remain vigilant during the holiday season, 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. Questions or concerns may be submitted via email at [email protected] or 540-825-2411.