A nursing home in Visalia announced on Wednesday that six residents and two healthcare professionals have tested positive for COVID-19.
Redwood Springs Healthcare Center is a nursing facility in the central San Joaquin Valley that currently holds 176 beds. The healthcare staff experienced the onset of symptoms while caring for two patients in one room, the nursing home said in a statement.
Positive COVID-19 patients are being housed in shared rooms separated from other residents. They are being cared for by staff who are only serving those positive COVID-19 patients. Those who are symptomatic will also be tested, the statement said.
“Our top priority remains the health and well-being of everyone in our facility,” the statement said. “This incident underscores the service and sacrifices made by our dedicated team every day. We will keep you up to date on any developments. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. We will be glad to answer them and make ourselves available to do so.”
The nursing home says it has implemented several measures to prevent the spread of infections including limiting entry to one entry point, screening staff members daily with a temperature check, and monitoring residents daily for fever and respiratory symptoms.
“We are thinking about the patients and staff at Redwood Springs,” said Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County Public Health Officer. “Public health staff are working in close coordination with Redwood Springs Healthcare Center to monitor everyone in the facility.”
The eight cases were included in Tulare County’s COVID-19 update Wednesday. So far, the county has 59 cases.
Tulare County announced its second COVID-19 related death on Wednesday as well.
