COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Update December – January 2022

WEARING MASKS STILL SAVE LIVES

Dear Residents, Family Members and & Staff,

The COVID Virus has mutated again and now we have the Emergence of Omicron. 

On November 24, 2021, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). This new variant was first detected in specimens collected on November 11, 2021, in Botswana and on November 14, 2021, in South Africa.

On November 26, 2021, WHO named the Omicron and classified it as a Variant of Concern (VOC). On November 30, 2021, the United States designated Omicron as a Variant of Concern, and on December 1, 2021, the first confirmed U.S. case of Omicron was identified.

CDC has been collaborating with global public health and industry partners to learn about Omicron, as we continue to monitor its course. We don’t yet know how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it. But the beginning of the research into this variant does appear that if vaccinated, the effects of illness are not severe.

Despite the increased attention of Omicron, Delta continues to be the main variant circulating in the United States.

The continuation of Nursing Home outbreaks of positive residents or staff continue to be low across the Country and thankfully in our home as well.  However, troubling for all of us is that the community positivity rates in most areas of the country, including ours, is high and continue to rise.  There is an old saying in the Nursing Home world – what is happening in the community where a facility is located will make its way into the facility.  So we need to be cautious.

Our facility continues to focus on our infection control work. Training and retraining on 4 main topics:

• Isolation Practices including protection practices of staff when out in the community
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – what / where / how / how to get more
• Effective Cleaning Products
• Social Distancing

Among other topics

We are continuing to remind employees, family members, and anyone entering the facility, if you are sick, you cannot come to the facility and potentially infect others – whether it is Flu or COVID-19.

We know everyone wants to celebrate the holidays.  We know everyone wants to return to normal.  However, we caution everyone to celebrate responsibly.  Whether it is a smaller number of Christmas dinner guests or planning to stay home for New Year’s Eve we need to be cautious.   The continuation of the spreading of this virus is one of all of us.

Vaccination against this virus is still our strongest weapon against it and its mutations.

From Our Home to Yours

Our Best Wishes for the Holidays and the Safest, COVID Free 2022.