13th resident at Kane in Glen Hazel dies

A 13th resident has died as a result of COVID-19 at the Kane Living Center in Glen Hazel.

According to Allegheny County’s official website, 71 residents of the facility have tested positive for the virus.

Kane Living Center Director Dennis Biondo and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mario Fatigati spoke to the media Friday about the situation at Glen Hazel, which has a total of 175 residents, and ongoing mitigation efforts.

“The virus has moved through the building, and hopefully, we’re getting to the point where patients will be more stable,” Dr. Fatigati said.

Seven Glen Hazel residents are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. Of the other residents who have tested positive, he noted 44 have recovered.

At Glen Hazel, he said, how and where patients are treated depends on their individual circumstances.

For those patients who are at the end of life and experiencing respiratory failure, Dr. Fatigati said, staff at Glen Hazel are keeping them comfortable. For those patients expected to recover, if they are experiencing respiratory distress, he said, they are sent to area hospitals.

At the same facility, 42 staff members have also tested positive, county officials reported, with 27 of those listed as recovered. Mr. Biondo praised the staff, including those who have recovered from the virus and returned to work.

“They work hard,” he said. “We’re very proud of them for what they’re doing every day. It would be easy to become demoralized, but our staff has been great.”

Mr. Biondo noted the toll COVID-19 has had on nursing homes across the country.

“The deaths seem to hit in the long-term care facilities,” he said.

“We’re not unique there.”

Mitigation measures at the Kane facilities began in midMarch, with the centers restricting visitors and vendors. In addition, staff temperatures are taken and monitored closely, Mr. Biondo said.

Moving forward, Dr. Fatigati said he expects lessons to be learned from the pandemic — including possibly stopping the use of double rooms and being able to spread out more in the facilities.

“We’ve managed infections in our buildings for years,” Dr. Fatigati said, noting illnesses like flu, norovirus and C-Dif. “This is a different animal because of its nature.”

At the other Kane locations in Scott and Ross, no residents have tested positive. At the facility in McKeesport, one resident has tested positive, and another test is pending. One staff member at each of the facilities in Ross, McKeesport and Scott have also tested positive.