Dear Family and Friends of South Cove Manor:
I am writing to you today to provide you with an update about South Cove Manor at Quincy Point’s Covid-19 preparedness efforts. Since news of this outbreak first was reported, we have been focused on ensuring the safety of our residents and staff. In early January, we interviewed all staff that had taken a vacation in the previous month, and asked if anyone had gone to China. There were two staff members that had, and we monitored them for any signs or symptoms for two weeks. Thankfully, there were none. We also spoke with staff that had future trips to China planned and informed them that upon their return, they would be required to remain away from the building for two weeks, and would need a physician’s note stating that they did not have any respiratory illness or signs/symptoms of the Coronavirus prior to retuning to work. At that time, we did have three staff members that had plans to travel – all of those trips have been canceled. We continue to have an open dialogue with our staff about any travel plans, and strongly discourage any overseas travel at the current time.
Our resident’s and staff’s safety are paramount, and we are working to ensure that those who count on us are protected. The process that we are going through to protect our staff and residents, is no different than the process we would use if there were a community wide influenza outbreak. As part of that process, our housekeeping staff remains vigilant about cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, with a special focus on areas that people come in contact with the most, door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, and counters. We continue to insist that staff members not come to work if they are feeling ill, and we ask that visitors refrain from visiting if they have any signs or symptoms of any respiratory illness or distress. We receive daily communications from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and recommended changes to protocol related to Covid-19, are initiated.
Finally, I want to reiterate that the best defense against this, and any other illness, is good infection control practices. The primary component to an effective infection control plan is consistent, and proper hand washing for a minimum of 20 seconds. In addition, the proper use of personal protective equipment, such as gloves, masks, and gowns, is critical to infection control.
Building off of our healthcare related infection control practices, there are many things that you can do in your daily lives to keep you and your families as safe as possible:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, especially when out in public.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick and stay home if you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away, and then wash your hands as described above.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend the general public wear a mask to prevent COVID-19. Stocking up on masks could create a shortage for healthcare facilities, making it more difficult to safely care for patients.
Please feel free to contact me, Li Chen, Administrator, or Mary Louise Butler, Director of Nursing with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
William J. Graves
President & CEO
Helpful Resource for Staff, Residents, Family Members and Visitors
Information about the coronavirus outbreak is spreading fast, but what do we actually know about the illness? CBC News medical contributor and family physician Dr. Peter Lin breaks down the facts about what it is, where it came from, how it spreads and what you can do to protect yourself. Click
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