August 12, 2022
Dear Families and Friends,
Despite due diligence and ongoing infection control measures, we once again find ourselves with active COVID cases in the facility.
As of yesterday, 8/11, two residents and one staff member have tested positive. Unfortunately, the affected residents will be isolating in their respective rooms for a time determined by the Vermont Health Department. Dr. Sheehan ( Medical Director) and the nursing staff are monitoring the residents closely for any complications; in-room refreshments, snacks, games, etc., will be provided, with frequent check-ins from staff.
The positive staff member will be isolating at home and will not return until they test negative. We will PCR test the entire facility, residents and staff, on Monday, 8/15.
That being said, if you are planning to visit the facility (for any reason), we urge you to take all reasonable precautions to protect yourself from the virus and, in so doing, protect your family, friends, and their caregivers here at Thompson House.
If you do visit:
- Be sure to liberally use the alcohol-based hand sanitizer that you’ll find in the lobby at check-in and in the wall-mounted dispensers by the elevator doors and outside each resident’s room.
- Please adhere to the existing masking requirements throughout the facility as well as in residents’ rooms; encourage your resident to wear a mask, if possible, during your visit.
- If your resident is able, and while the weather cooperates, please consider a patio visit.
Nearly a year ago we all faced the Delta variant after a relatively COVID-free summer. Today we deal with the highly-transmissible BA.5 variant, and we’ll no doubt see another, and possibly more virulent strain, in the months ahead.
The point being that COVID is still with us and will likely stay with us for some time to come in shifting forms. Aside from vaccinations, our best weapons to fight this disease are awareness and rigorous adherence to infection-control measures: hand sanitization and mask wearing.
Please know that we truly are in this together and we vastly appreciate all that you’ve done and all that you continue to do to keep our residents safe.
We will update you again when Monday’s test results are available.
Sincerely,
Dane Rank, Administrator
Melissa Osborne, RN, DNS
