Macon County Public Health was notified on July 7 that a resident and employee at Macon Valley Nursing Home have tested positive for COVID-19.
This brings Macon Valley Nursing Home’s outbreak to a total of 5; 4 staff members and 1 resident. The resident is asymptomatic and is isolated at Macon Valley and the staff member, who is also asymptomatic, has been isolated at home.
None of the positive employees will return to work until they have two negative COVID-19 tests, taken 24 hours apart.
Macon Valley Nursing Home has been following the highest levels of Personal Protective Equipment standards and procedures while in their facility and when working with patients.
All the residents and staff of Macon Valley Nursing Home are being routinely tested for COVID-19 at the direction MCPH’s Medical Director and Macon Valley’s leadership team.
Macon Valley Nursing Home and Macon County Public Health have been working together and have verified that Macon Valley has all the necessary PPE, sanitizing, and monitoring supplies and guidance they need to assure that any spread is minimal.
The entire state of North Carolina is under a “Safer at Home” executive order, currently under phase two with masks required to be worn when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19; however, anyone of any age can become infected with this illness.
Therefore, MCPH asks that community members strictly follow the Governor Roy Cooper’s orders and continue to practice social distancing, as well as safe hygiene measures such as hand washing and frequently cleaning touched objects and surfaces.
The public can monitor the different phases of re-opening and learn more about the restrictions HERE.
Symptoms for COVID-19 are fever, cough, other lower respiratory illness (shortness of breath). If you believe that you may have COVID-19, please call the Health Department at 828.349.2517. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., until further notice.
Article submitted by Macon County Public Health