Special to Iredell Free News
The Iredell County Health Department received notice on Sunday, May 24, of a COVID-19 outbreak in a second Iredell County long-term care facility. 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.
The facility has willingly worked in conjunction with the Iredell County Health Department to have all residents and employees tested for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure, health officials said.
“While we are still awaiting the results of a few tests, we can confirm there are a total of two positive cases of COVID-19 at this facility, one in a resident and one in staff member,” the Health Department said in a news release. “The infected resident has been isolated from all other residents and the employee who tested positive is isolating at home.
The Iredell County Health Department is working with this facility to conduct contact tracing to determine who else may have been exposed to COVID-19. The facility continues to implement strict visitor restrictions and infection control precautions to help prevent any further spread of COVID-19.
At this time, no other individuals at the facility have exhibited signs or symptoms associated with COVID-19. The skilled nursing staff at the long-term care facility are continuing to provide quality care to all residents, with resident and staff safety being the utmost priority.
The Iredell County 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.
LEARN MORE
For more information related to COVID-19 cases across North Carolina in Congregate Living Settings from NCDHHS, visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard/congregate-living-settings