State nursing home reports first employee COVID-19 case in Orting
An Orting nursing home announced July 13 that an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
This is the first staff member to test positive at the Washington Soldiers Home since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the state.
The nursing home is operated by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Communications and Legislative Director Heidi Audette said only one resident has contracted the virus, which was in April, meaning only two cases have been reported at the facility.
The employee has self-isolated at home, a news release said.
The facility enacted “enhanced surveillance,” which includes symptom and temperature checks every four hours for 14 days.
“Additional environmental cleaning took place in areas that the staff members worked and throughout the facilities,” the news release said. “We are in the process of notifying and testing anyone who had close or direct contact with the employees.”
Orting’s Washington Soldiers Home has evaded an outbreak that many long-term care facilities have endured.
In a weekly report published on July 14, the Washington State Department of Health said Pierce County has 63 deaths and 412 cases associated with long-term care facilities. The county ranks the fourth highest after King, Yakima and Snohomish counties for long-term care facility cases.
Two or more cases at a business, care or child-care facility are considered an outbreak.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department began tracking outbreaks on its site. From July 4-10, Pierce County saw 13 outbreaks, which accounts for 38 percent of reported outbreaks since May 24.
The state target is two or fewer outbreaks a week.
Audette credits preventive measures for the low number of positive cases at the state nursing home for veterans.
Several staff members who work at multiple facilities have been asked to either work at the Soldiers Home or another facility to limit exposure, Audette said.
The temperature of every employee or contractor who enters the nursing home is checked, and employees are asked a series of questions on any potential COVID-19 symptoms. Staff are required to wear surgical or cloth masks.
Personal protective equipment is used when a resident tests positive or the type of care requires it, Audette said.
Residents with COVID-19-like symptoms are tested and require staff to be tested by their health care provider, Administrator Robert Pence said in a statement.
Frequently-touched surfaces are continually cleaned ,and custodial staff are adding ultraviolet light technology.
Virtual medical and personal visits have limited contact. Residents have made nearly 90 tele-health appointments, Audette said.
Visitors are allowed only in end-of-life situations. More than 280 virtual visits have connected residents to loved ones, Audette said.
The Washington Soldiers Home is also working on an outdoor visiting station for families to visit in-person.
