Dear Sunrise residents, family and friends,
This letter is to report on COVID positive staff.
Sunrise continues to test staff two times per week for COVID surveillance. In today’s testing, 1 staff member tested positive who works in the nursing facility and assisted living. The current number of active, COVID positive staff members is 3. Staff members who test positive are isolating at home. Since April 20, a total of 58 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.
There are no residents from either nursing or assisted living in quarantine at this time.
We will continue to test residents every 3-7 days as testing supplies are available or if there are any suspicions of illness. Staff continue monitoring residents for any signs or symptoms of illness on each shift (3 times per day).
Sunrise’s nursing facility is currently considered in “outbreak” status by the CMS definition , which is 14 days with no resident or staff infections. As such, we are limited on providing visits, but will continue allowing closed window visits for nursing facility residents and outdoor visits for assisted living. We do need our visitors to follow the visiting guidelines as established by CMS, including checking in/out for appointments, wearing masks & using social distancing during the visit. Please be sure to schedule these visits with the Activities department prior to coming to the facility.
Our staff screen for exposure, symptoms and temperature at the beginning and end of each shift and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout their shift. This has been our policy for months now and will continue to be the policy indefinitely. Our staff members are also testing regularly as part of our surveillance program.
We are working closely with our local public health department, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and our medical director and following their recommendations. We are notifying our constituents and all regulatory bodies necessary to keep them informed about this current situation as required.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely, Hallie Salmen, CEO