Nursing home asks Guard for virus aid
A Westmoreland County nursing home has requested assistance from the National Guard to help stem a COVID19 outbreak that has grown steadily this week.
Westmoreland Manor, which is owned by the county, announced Thursday that it has taken that action in coordination with the Regional Response Health Collaboration Program, which provides assistance to long- term care facilities.
A letter posted on the facility’s website by administrator Angela Knauff said the home has 47 positive residents since testing began last week.
“We will continue to test all staff and residents that tested negative every threeseven days until 14 days since the most recent positive result has passed,” her letter stated.
“The Pennsylvania National Guard will be able to perform testing that provides a faster turnaround time. This will also allow the managers at the Manor to focus on infection control and resident care,” it continued.
The county also announced Friday that seven more employees have tested positive, bringing the total to 19.
On Tuesday, the home had reported it had 32 out of 336 residents who had tested positive since Sept. 16.
Officials said then that most of the positive cases are asymptomatic.
On Sept. 16, in accordance with requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Westmoreland Manor began routine testing and contact tracing of its staff members. By Monday, officials confirmed that 20 residents, one contract staff member and one employee had tested positive.
Residents who tested positive are being isolated in three of the facility’s nine units.
All positive employees are quarantining at home.
Westmoreland Manor has halted face- to- face visitation as part of its phased reopening plan. Window visits will be permitted on a case- bycase basis.
“Throughout this pandemic, the health and safety of all residents and staff has been the Manor’s highest priority, and we are proud to have been a facility without resident cases for over six months, during the worst parts of this pandemic,” the announcement from county officials said earlier this week.