Nine serious people have died at the Watsonville Post-Acute Center and 61 others have contracted a serious epidemic, according to Santa Cruz County Public Health officials.
The county did not count when the outbreak began, but it announced the deaths of five of the nine residents on Wednesday. The outbreak is responsible for about half of the 19 COVID-19 outbreaks in Santa Cruz County.
Of those who tested positive at the facility, 46 were residents and 15 were employees, public health officials said. A total of 2,535 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the county, according to the county’s Covid-19 data dashboard.
“Our condolences are extended to the family and friends of these individuals,” Santa Cruz County officials said in a statement.
Officials from California’s public health department “visited several sites to provide evaluations and recommendations” after the outbreak, county public health officials said.
David. David Gilariasi, the county’s deputy health officer, said in a statement that post-acute officers alerted county and state health officials “as soon as the first resident is tested positive.”
“Our staff is focused on the outbreak and we (Watsonville Post Acute Center) will continue to work together,” Khilariasi said.
Officials with the facility could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening. A statement on the centre’s website said the facility was taking “all necessary precautionary measures” and was following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
“Every day we evaluate all of our residents following the CDPH and Santa Cruz County Santa Cruz guidelines to determine who meets the criteria to move out of the unit,” Gerald Hunter, the facility’s administrator, said in a statement posted on the facility’s COVID-19 webpage on Monday. Was. . “This is a positive first step in reducing the number of positive cases in the facility.”
Officers with the California National Guard are providing “staff support” at the facility, county public health officials said.
We are sorry to announce five additional COVID-19-related deaths in the Watsonville Post-Acute Center outbreak. This brings the total number of facilities to nine, and the county to a total of 19. Our condolences are extended to the friends and families of these individuals.
– Santa Cruz County (ccsccounty) October October 7, 2020
Since the outbreak began, staff from the county’s communicable disease and emergency preparedness units have worked to develop potential outbreak plans with seven skilled nursing facilities in Santa Cruz County, public health officials said.
County officials said the plan includes tests of staff and residents, maximum PPE. And infection control strategies are also included. “(Watsonville Post Acute Center) The plan is being implemented as it works to reduce the impact of the virus.”
Health officials said that while the rate of new cases in Santa Cruz County is “steadily declining,” skilled nursing facilities and long-term care facilities are still considered to be at risk for coronavirus “due to clutter and vulnerability.” Population. “
County officers Said on Twitter on Wednesday That “more accidents can be prevented” by keeping residents, wearing masks, keeping social distance from others, avoiding gatherings with people outside the home, and isolating or isolating anyone who falls ill or comes in contact with Covid-19.
Both Public Health SCC And Liked Staying in constant touch with the facility, providing staff support with the National Guard. At the onset of the epidemic, the county worked closely with skilled nursing facilities to ensure the protocol is in place to reduce such incidents.
– Santa Cruz County (ccsccounty) October October 7, 2020
Lure Ren Hernandez is the author of the San Francisco Chronicle Staff. Email: [email protected] Twitter: YByLHernandez
