Dear Wildwood Families,
I hope that you and your family are well during these trying times.
As the number of COVID-19 infections grows in our region, we are experiencing occurrences as well. They have been limited and contained, but we wanted to update you and reassure you that we are working with our local health departments to minimize the possibility of further spread of the virus.
Since Thanksgiving, we have had four staff test positive for COVID-19--one each in two of our residential programs, one in our community habilitation program, and most recently, one in our New Karner day habilitation program. We have also had two people we support test positive--a student in our Building 4 Young Adult Program, and a person in one of the residences where there was also a positive staff test. In all staff cases, the staff are isolating at home until they are medically cleared to return to work.
In the house where a resident tested positive, the individual is isolated and the other residents are being quarantined in their rooms. That resident is currently asymptomatic and the staff member that had also tested positive from that residence has very mild symptoms. The staff’s last day at the residence was November 28.
(For the sake of clarity, the term "Isolation" refers to separating sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. The term "Quarantine" refers to separating and restricting the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.)
All safety protocols and procedures were in place and being followed throughout all our programs and sites.
Anyone who has been in contact with any of the people who tested positive has been notified. All residents, their families and affected staff have been notified of the positive tests and have been given directions about how to proceed. Enhanced disinfecting measures are being taken and the staff is following all outlined protocols and procedures.
Please note that The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other privacy laws restrict us from disclosing any personally identifiable information regarding positive cases or mandatory quarantine.
We are doing all we can at this time and our number one priority is keeping the people we support and our staff members safe.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Lou