From: David Swartley, President/CEO Date: December 18, 2020 RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update #34
I am writing to give an update on the latest information regarding COVID-19 cases at Moravian Manor Communities.
Despite all our training and preparation, with the high levels of community transmission, COVID-19 inevitably entered our community, as it has so many retirement communities. Our Herrnhut Neighborhood (skilled nursing memory care) has been directly affected. This week we had our seventh resident die from COVID-related issues. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and our caregivers who are profoundly affected by the virus. Our cumulative positive tests on Herrnhut are now twenty-six positive. It is important to note that we have eleven residents who tested positive and moved through the critical time and are now out of precautions. Moving through this twenty-one day period means they can leave their room and have more flexibility.
We also have had our ninth Residential Living positive case. This resident lives on our Founders Campus.
Early in the summer, we had several employees test positive for COVID-19. This trend has continued; this week, we have had two additional employees test positive for COVID-19. While all our employees have either recovered or been asymptomatic, their absence places stress on their fellow employees. Because Lancaster County’s positivity rate remains above ten percent, we’re doing twice-weekly testing for our staff and residents. For our second round, we began using Point of Care (POC) testing. POC testing gives us results almost immediately, which is a significant improvement. Better turnaround is critical for us to manage the virus to the best of our ability.
We’ve been very conservative with our protocols and practices in our skilled nursing and memory care units. We continue to appreciate families cooperating with us during this challenging time. This week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health arrived and completed an infection control survey. While we struggle with the loss of life, we were pleased that there were no survey findings. Our team is doing everything we can to keep our residents safe.
The good news is that the vaccine will arrive very soon. Our first doses will be administered on December 29! The second dose will be administered on January 19. I look forward to receiving my vaccination as soon as I am in the queue. The vaccine gives hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel!
I also would like to thank the many residents who participated in the PA Department of Health antibody serology study this week. I am pleased that Moravian Manor Communities was selected to participate in this study!
Our Medical Director keeps us apprised of the CDC’s latest recommendations regarding the vaccine and other developments. Moravian Manor Communities continues to follow all infection control protocols stipulated by the PA Dept. of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for dealing with the new Coronavirus. I believe that our recent infection control survey confirms that our team is following the best guidelines available.
For those of you seeking additional information, continuous updates are available at the following websites:
The sounds of contemporary caroling and holiday cheer filled the air on the Warwick Woodlands campus this Wednesday. Prima Theatre’s trolley-traveling LanCarolers were on-site to share their heartwarming live music for residents who gathered “together,” masked and socially distanced for safety.
The caroling troupe performed a cappella style from a decorated trolley, courtesy of Expressions Limousine of Lancaster, and decked out in modern attire thanks to an exciting partnership with American Music Theatre.
Community life director Jennifer Shutt coordinated the special event. “Despite the difficult year we’ve all faced, sharing the many joys that Christmastime brings is important for all us. It was a pure delight to hear everyone joining in with the carols, feeling comradery and light of heart, at least for a little while,” Jennifer recounted.
From: David Swartley, President/CEO Date: December 11, 2020 RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update #33
I am writing to given an update on the latest information regarding COVID-19 cases at Moravian Manor Communities.
Residential Living cases remain at eight total cases, all on the Founders Campus. Two residents were hospitalized for reasons other than COVID; one resident has returned to our skilled nursing area while the other is being treated in the hospital for health issues beyond COVID-19.
As of Friday, December 11, we have had twenty residents test positive for COVID-19 in our Herrnhut neighborhood. Since my last update, three residents have died from COVID related illness. Currently, four other residents on Herrnhut are very ill from the COVID-19 virus.
This time of loss is a painful time for our families, residents, and staff. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members and staff as they grieve the loss of a loved one. Our Medical Director, Dr. Howse, and our clinical team continue to provide compassionate care for our residents who have contracted the COVID-19 virus.
In the past few days, we have had no additional residents test positive for COVID-19. Since Lancaster County’s positivity rate remains above ten percent, we continue with twice weekly testing for our staff and residents. This week, for our second round, we implemented Point of Care (POC) testing. POC testing gives us results almost immediately, and our first round has gone very well. Testing this week has yielded no additional positive tests; however, some tests from our first round of testing earlier in the week are yet to be resulted.
One concern at all health care facilities is the positivity rate of employees. We have had numerous employees test positive over the past several weeks. Any positive test or direct exposure to someone testing positive requires employees to self-quarantine for up to fourteen days (symptom-free) before returning to work. These quarantines create additional strain on the remaining staff who need to fill the open shifts. I am now one of those employees working from home due to COVID exposure. Employee absences put a heavy load on those employees still able to work.
Our hospitals are full of COVID + patients. This morning, Wellspan Ephrata had thirty-five COVID + patients, and Lancaster General’s COVID census was one-hundred and eight.
Our Medical Director keeps us apprised of the CDC’s latest recommendations and the PA Department of Health updates. Moravian Manor Communities continues to follow all infection control protocols stipulated by the PA Dept. of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for dealing with the new Coronavirus.
For those of you seeking additional information, continuous updates are available at the following websites:
From: David Swartley, President/CEO Date: December 8, 2020 RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update #32
I am writing to give an update on the latest information regarding COVID-19 cases at Moravian Manor Communities (MMC).
Residential Living cases remain at eight total cases, all on Founders Campus. Two of the eight were hospitalized for reasons other than COVID; we expect all eight residents to recover from COVID-19.
We have nineteen COVID+ residents in our Herrnhut neighborhood. These residents are being cared for at MMC and have experienced various sickness levels from the virus. One resident was hospitalized with other health issues, tested positive at the hospital, and subsequently died. The hospital will record this as a COVID related death. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they grieve the loss of a life well-lived. Our Medical Director, Dr. Howse, and our clinical team have provided outstanding care for our residents during this time. While we are not yet through the crisis, it appears that the treatment protocols being administered are beneficial.
Lancaster County’s positivity rate remains above ten percent. If the county is over ten percent, it triggers twice a week testing for our staff and residents. Our team’s cooperation with this requirement has been nothing less than exemplary.
One concern among at all health care facilities is the positivity rate of employees. We have had numerous employees test positive over the past several weeks. Any positive test or direct exposure to someone testing positive requires employees to self-quarantine for up to fourteen days (symptom-free) before returning to work. These quarantines create additional strain on the remaining staff who need to fill the open shifts.
Our hospitals are full of COVID + patients. As of this morning, Wellspan Ephrata had forty-four COVID + patients, and Lancaster General’s COVID census was one-hundred and five.
In the weekend LNP, there was a compelling article written by a nurse at LGH. Hearing about the daily battle highlights the importance of us taking common-sense measures. Social distance, wear a mask, and wash your hands.
The good news is that the vaccine is on its way. Current information would suggest that our older, frail residents will be the first to receive the vaccine. The vaccine news is very encouraging!
Thank you all for your concern for your neighbor and your support of our team. I have been watching the resident gifts come in for our team members in the last couple of weeks. At the time of this writing, we are sixty-one percent higher than last year. What an incredible response. What a testimony to the appreciation of our staff.
Our Medical Director keeps us apprised of the latest recommendations from the CDC and the PA Department of Health. Moravian Manor Communities continues to follow all infection control protocols stipulated by the PA Dept. of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for dealing with the Coronavirus.
For those of you seeking additional information, continuous updates are available at the following websites:
From: David Swartley, President/CEO Date: November 30, 2020 RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update #31
I trust that you had a lovely Thanksgiving; albeit, for many of us, the day was much quieter than most years!
I am writing to give an update on our COVID-19 situation at Moravian Manor Communities (MMC). Since my last update, we are experiencing numerous positive COVID-19 results in our skilled nursing area. Currently, eleven residents have tested positive; all reside in our Herrnhut (memory care) neighborhood. Most of the residents have mild symptoms; however, three are currently in the hospital.
We also learned of our sixth residential living resident on the Founders Campus who has tested positive. The resident is experiencing some symptoms; at this point, they are resting at home.
The Lancaster County positivity rate of over ten percent requires us to continue testing all staff. An additional challenge is staff that has tested positive or have been directly exposed to someone who tested positive; causes more staff absences as they quarantine at home.
As I have shared with our team, while this is disappointing news, we should not be surprised. We have been preparing for this time and feel confident that we are doing all we can to keep our residents physically safe. Keep our residents and caregivers in your thoughts and prayers as we face this challenge and the upcoming winter months.
Due to this outbreak, we will also be making changes to enhance the safety of our residents. Over the weekend, our clinical team has been in constant contact with LGH’s Regional / RHCP (Regional Response Health Collaboration Program). I liken the RHCP to a COVID-19 SWAT team. They have been accommodating in assisting with additional PPE needs and picking up the cost of our testing in December. Per their work this weekend and our recent experience, we will be implementing the following restrictions:
Garden Court dining area will be closed to sit down dining. We will continue to provide take-out meals. If you need your meal delivered to your Garden Court home, we will use our wait staff for this task.
Owl’s Nest dining area is also closed to sit-down dining, but you can order take-out meals and have curbside pickup.
The Smart-Fit studio will be closed. Please continue to enjoy Jennifer’s ZOOM fitness programming as well as enjoy the great outdoors.
Group resident programming/meetings are postponed.
Woodshop and other ancillary areas are closed.
A la carte housekeeping services and non-essential maintenance services remain on hold.
No external housekeeping services are permitted.
Beauty shop/salon closed to residential living residents.
Transportation services for residential living residents will continue for essential medical appointments. Masks and eye protection will be required for the transport and visit.
While this is not the news I want to share, our goal is to do whatever we can to slow the spread. You will note that in Update #30, I stated that LGH had sixty-six patients with COVID-19. As of this morning, that number has risen to ninety-five. While not all ninety-five are in the hospital due to COVID-19, the rapid growth is concerning as we need to keep our hospital treatment protocols in mind as we make our personal decisions. The good news is that if you become ill, the treatments available are markedly better than eight or nine months ago. With improved medicines and vaccines on the way (as noted below*), I am quite optimistic about a much better 2021; however, the next couple of months will likely be hard work for all of us.
One of our managers passed on a quotation from their pastor. Erma Bombeck’s one book is entitled, “If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What am I doing in the Pits?” Perhaps a better perspective is, “Instead of looking at the bowl of pits, think about the pie baking in the oven.”
While it is challenging to be optimistic in this environment, remember that this is a season. It will pass, and life will regain a sense of normalcy.
*Moderna is working with the U.S. CDC, Operation Warp Speed, and McKesson, a COVID-19 vaccine distributor, contracted by the U.S. government, as well as global stakeholders to be prepared for the distribution of mRNA-1273 in the event that it receives an EUA and similar global authorizations and approvals,” according to a news release posted Monday. “By the end of 2020, the Company expects to have approximately 20 million doses of mRNA-1273 available in the U.S. The Company remains on track to manufacture 500 million to 1 billion doses globally in 2021.
