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Area nursing homes prep for virus surge

News Photo by Meakalia Previch-Liu A temporary tent structure is seen Wednesday at MediLodge of Alpena. The tent was created to allow staff to have breaks outside.

ALPENA — Staff and residents at area nursing homes continue to follow safety precautions as the number of coronavirus-infected Alpena County residents reached nearly 50 as of Thursday afternoon.

Many of those infected live or work at MediLodge of Alpena.

Last week, an eldery woman who lived at MediLodge of Alpena died. It was confirmed after her death she had COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, making her the first infected Northeast Michigan resident to die since the pandemic hit Michigan on March 10.

Residents at nursing homes have been greatly impacted by the coronavirus, which is especially deadly for the elderly and those with preexisting conditions. More than 11,100 deaths from outbreaks in such facilities have been recorded nationwide, a third of them in New York, according to data collected by the Associated Press.

To protect residents, Alpena nursing home officials say staff are using personal protective equipment such as gowns and masks, residents are being kept at least six feet apart, visitors are prohibited, new arrivals are quarantined, and residents and routinely monitored for symptoms.

News Photo by Meakalia Previch-Liu Turning Brook, a retirement and assisted living facility, is pictured on Wednesday afternoon. Area long-term care facilities are following safety precautions as the number of coronavirus-infected Alpena County residents continues to climb.

Long-term care facilities are fully cooperating with public health officials and are following all state and federal safety recommendations, Cathy Goike, spokeswoman for District Health Department No. 4, said.

“During this unprecedented time, we are in constant communication with our members, sharing information on a daily basis,” said Melissa Samuel, president and CEO of the Health Care Association of Michigan, which represents more than 350 nursing homes around the state. “We also serve as an advocate for our members and the residents they serve by helping to raise issues with elected officials and their staff on the need for (personal protective equipment), expanded testing in long-term care facilities, and needed funding.”

As of Thursday, 67 Northeast Michigan residents have tested positive for the disease: 49 in Alpena County, nine in Presque Isle County, five in Montmorency County, and four in Alcona County.

There are now 35,291 cases and 2,977 deaths reported statewide.

Meanwhile, public health officials on Thursday outlined who would be given priority to receive a test for COVID-19 as capabilities are expanded statewide:

Courtesy Photo In this photo provided by Besser Senior Living Community, residents are seen recently watching a movie while practicing social distancing in the activity room.

∫ First, hospitalized patients and health care facility workers with symptoms.

∫ Second, patients in congregate living facilities, such as nursing homes, those older than 65, patients with underlying conditions, and first responders with symptoms.

∫ Third, essential workers, health care facility workers, and first responders without symptoms, and individuals with mild symptoms.

∫ Fourth, other essential workers, whether they have symptoms or not.

And state officials on Thursday outlined the devastation state-ordered closures have had on the economy. Across the 11 counties in the state’s Northeast Lower Michigan region, 1,800 jobs were lost between February and March, the state said. The unemployment rate stayed about the same, about 7.5%, because roughly the same number of people left the region’s labor force through retirement, moving away, dying, or giving up looking for a job.

The unemployment rate in March was 4.7% in Alpena County, 9.5% in Presque Isle County, 9.1% in Montmorency County, and 7.1% in Alcona County.

MEDILODGE PREPARED

While he would not release specifics about residents or staff, citing confidentiality laws, MediLodge of Alpena spokesman Bill Gray said in a statement that the facility has the necessary supplies and personal protective equipment to meet the needs of residents and local businesses are donating various supplies.

A temporary structure erected outside the facility this week allows staff to have breaks outside, Gray said.

While some residents have worried MediLodge is taking in infected residents from downstate, the facility has no plans to do so, he said.

FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS

At Besser Senior Living Community, staff have not encountered any glitches in their plans to protect residents, said Julie Zwolinski, registered nurse and care coordinator.

Although the facility is accepting new residents, a new admission would have to stay isolated for 14 days while being monitored, Zwolinski said.

Staff visit with new residents dressed in full personal protective equipment through the two-week period, she said. One new admission is currently in isolation.

Residents are monitored twice a day for temperature and any respiratory symptoms. If a resident has a respiratory symptom, monitoring happens every shift.

“We’re working hard — as well as I’m sure the rest of the community is — to keep us all safe and protect our patients,” Zwolinski said.

All staff wear masks and keep six feet away from people in the building, Bill O’Neil, regional maintenance safety director at the facility, said. Housekeeping does triple the amount of sanitizing normally done. Besser also participates in weekly conference calls with seven other facilities to brainstorm prevention strategies and to make sure all facilities are supplied with enough safety equipment.

If a COVID-19 case does arise, O’Neil said, a section of a corridor would be isolated for the person with the disease. Staff would have a designated area near the barrier to fully prepare before entering the infected room.

Such a section could be made in an hour, O’Neil said.

Meakalia Previch-Liu can be reached at 989-358-5680 or mprevich-liu@thealpenanews.com.

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