The majority of the 25 Coronavirus deaths in Tulare County are due to an outbreak at a Visalia nursing home. In fact, nearly half of the county’s 441 COVID-19 cases are nursing home related.
Out of 174 COVID-19 cases, Redwood Springs Healthcare Center has seen at least 16 patient deaths. Lindsay Gardens, another nursing home, has 43 coronavirus cases. Since nearly a third of those infected in both facilities are among staff, local hospitals and CAL-MAT have provided backup.
“We do have the state CAL-MAT teams that have come down to assist at both Lindsay Gardens and Redwood Springs,” said Tammie Weyker-Adkins, the public information officer with Tulare County Health and Human Services. Over 20 members from the CAL-MAT or California medical assistance team, are working in Tulare County, said Weyer-Adkins.
“And of course we are monitoring all of the nursing facilities, and asking them to be monitoring not only their residents, but their staff for symptoms,” Weyker-Adkins said.
Many facilities have limited or stopped allowing visitors to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Weyker-Adkins added that community members should stay connected safely by talking through a window, writing letters, or relying on phone calls.
Whatever it takes, she added, to stay in contact.