Managing Coronavirus In Assisted Living Facilities

Managing Coronavirus In Assisted Living Facilities

WAAY 31's Sydney Martin asked local health leaders about what can be done to stop the spread of coronavirus in North Alabamian assisted living facilities.

5 in the past 24 hours.

New information tonight on nusing homes in north alabama connected to coronavirus.

We learned 25 residents at signature healthcare of whitesburg gardens tested positive in the last 2 weeks for coronavirus -since march 9 have died from coronavirus.

It's not the only senior home having a spike of cases- the waay 31 i-team told you there are more than 2 dozen active coronavirus cases at tut fann state veterans home.

Waay 31's sydney martin joins us live in huntsville tonight... she asked local health leaders about what can be done to stop the spread of the virus in these homes..

Doctor pam hudson crestwood hospital c-e-o told me there is concern at nursing homes because the population that lives inside all of these homes are older and high risk, but she told me without locking all the staff inside it would be nearly impossible to stop.

75 residents tested positve at whitesburg gardens senior home since the pandemic started-- and 25 of those cases are from the past 2 weeks.

14 are since saturday!

That's also when the state released results from another backlog of cases.

Among the staff - the facility says there have been 28 positive tests.

8 in the past 2 weeks and 5 since saturday.

Tut fann has 26 active cases currently- and told us 7 people have died- 4 of those people had coronavirus at some point but the cause of death for all 7 is under investigation.

2 employees at tut fann also recently died- one of those employees was diagnosed with coronavirus 6 weeks prior to their death.

The state v-a told us all of those deaths are under investigation by the alabama department of public health.

Dr pam hudson said in these homes it's hard to seperate residents- and stop the spread.

Pam hudson, crestwood hopsital ceo, "where people live in close communication no matter what you do, so we have congregate living of people who aren't related, aren't family groups, yet they are in place where there is continued contact with perhaps healthcare workers, other team members, that provide care, and food and supplies, to those groups..it's nearly impossible to keep everyone out."

Hudson told me since many senior homes are doing more testing than in march when the pandemic started it appears there are more cases.

But she believes it's because of an increase in testing live in huntsville sm waay 31