Special to Iredell Free News

The Iredell County Health Department received notice of a COVID-19 outbreak at two local long-term care facilities, Accordius Health of Mooresville and Accordius Health of Statesville. At this time, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services considers two or more cases in a long-term care facility to be an outbreak.

Two staff members and one resident at the Statesville facility tested positive, along with one staff member and one resident at the Mooresville facility.

Both facilities have willingly worked in conjunction with the Iredell County Health Department to have all residents and employees tested weekly for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure.

The Health Department is working with both facilities to conduct contact tracing to determine who else may have been exposed to COVID-19. Both facilities continue to implement strict visitor restrictions and infection control precautions to help prevent any further spread of COVID-19.

Testing of all staff and residents was recommended by the Health Department after an individual working in the facility tested positive.

The Health Department has been encouraging all long-term care facilities in Iredell County to follow Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines and State directives meant to curb the spread of COVID-19. A key part of these directives includes restricting visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, as well as strictly adhering to infection prevention practices.