Jefferson City leaders react to COVID-19 cases at nursing home
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
After dozens of people tested positive for COVID-19 at a Jefferson City nursing home, city leaders continue to push personal responsibility as the city is under no health order.
A spokesman for JMS Senior Living, which owns Jefferson City Manor, said in a statement Monday that three of the home's 39 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 have died.
The deaths were from "underlying causes," according to the statement.
Another 29 staff members tested positive for the novel coronavirus. One staff member is hospitalized and the others are in quarantine at home until they're cleared to return to work.
The nursing home has 67 residents, according to stats posted on the JMS Senior Living website.
More than 150 residents and staff were tested last week and the results came in starting Thursday, the statement says.
Ron Fitzwater represents Ward 4 in Jefferson City, where the facility is located. He complimented the fast work of the staff after they learned of the cases.
"Nobody wants to have to see families go through that," Fitzwater said. "It's just a terrible disease we haven't been able to get our hands around yet. We know these things are going to happen, you hate to see it happen anywhere, especially in your own community."
Fitzwater said while this outbreak will be something to consider in the future, he believes the recommendations from the health department are enough.
"I would hate to see us make a knee-jerk response," Fitzwater said.
The mayor of Jefferson City shared her condolences with the families and staff members of the nursing home. She said the state monitors how those facilities operate, not the city.
While cases continue to rise in Cole County, Tergin again pushed to the social responsibility of residents to follow the recommendations in the city. There is not a current health order in the city.
"We rely on schools, we rely on offices, we rely on businesses, because that's where people are, to remain diligent about it," Tergin said.
The company that runs Jefferson City Manor says it screens residents and staff daily.
"Since March, the Jefferson City Manor staff has screened every resident and staff member every day for possible signs and symptoms of the virus and provided enhanced infection control precautions," the statement says. "This is the first time any Jefferson City Manor residents or staff have tested positive for coronavirus."
The nursing home's CEO, Ben Scheulen, said in the statement that the health and safety of residents and workers is a priority for the company.
“We are staying in very close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking all the appropriate steps under current circumstances," Scheulen said. "For example, we have designated certain staff to care only for COVID-19 positive residents."
The nursing home has also hired contractors for special cleaning and suspended nonessential visits and group activities, including group dining.
The home is also working with health authorities and other JMS homes to ensure it has enough equipment and staff.
Chezney Schulte, the communicable disease coordinator with the Cole County Health Department, said the agency is working with state health officials and the nursing home to perform contact tracing and quarantine close contacts of the infected cases.
