Montgomery County Nursing Home reports first COVID-19 cases

 

DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY/dewayne@mcnews.online

MOUNT IDA – Montgomery County Nursing Home (MCNH) has reported their first confirmed cases of COVID-19 according to MCNH Director Tommy Johnston.

Johnston shared that they currently have nine staff members who have tested positive and two residents. He stated that the first cases were discovered Monday when two staff members tested positive for the virus. An exhaustive series of testing revealed seven more staff members and two residents were also infected with COVID-19. The remaining cases were confirmed Wednesday, August 19.

Johnston added that most of the infected are asymptomatic and none of the residents are exhibiting symptoms. He stated that the nursing home has diligently followed Arkansas Department of Health and CDC guidelines regarding daily testing of staff members when they come to work. None of the staff members who tested positive were reported to have a fever before their positive test result was reported.

“We have been in constant contact with the CDC and ADH in an effort to manage and contain this insidious virus.” Johnston stated.

Infected staff members have been quarantined and the nursing home is setting up an isolation area within the nursing home for residents who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Johnston shared that they are discussing whether to accept new residents for now. When new residents are allowed into the nursing home they will be quarantined for 14 days before being moved into the general area of the facility.

Thursday morning Montgomery County was reporting 20 active cases and 53 cumulative positive cases of COVID-19. There have been 32recoveries in the counties and one COVID related death. The county is reporting 1,065 negative test results.

 

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