Health officials concerned over new COVID-19 outbreaks in Vermont nursing homes
Health Dept. identifying new cluster inside Chittenden County senior care facility
Health Dept. identifying new cluster inside Chittenden County senior care facility
Health Dept. identifying new cluster inside Chittenden County senior care facility
The Vermont Health Department is tracking new outbreaks of COVID-19 inside nursing homes and senior care facilities around the state.
At Gov. Phil Scott's press conference on Friday, Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said he had become more concerned about the growing number of cases inside the long-term care centers.
The most recent outbreak has been found at Elderwood in Burlington, where 14 residents and two staff members have tested positive for the virus. The completed facility-wide testing after a resident tested positive earlier this week.
A spokesperson at UVM Medical Center said they were aware of four Elderwood residents that had been transferred to their hospital.
At Rutland Health and Rehab, five residents have died as the result of an ongoing outbreak.
Scott addressed the rise in coronavirus deaths at the start of his press conference.
"Please remember, this is the consequence of more virus in the community, which is exactly why we've taken the steps we've taken," the governor said.
As of Friday, 35 residents and 16 staff members at the Rutland facility had tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Levine, almost all long-term care outbreaks are triggered by an asymptomatic staff member carrying the virus into the facility, where it has potential to spread among the population most at risk for serious complications.
Since the start of the pandemic, more than 55% of the 67 Vermonters who have died from the coronavirus were long-term care residents.
On Tuesday, the state released a list of six long-term care centers with active coronavirus cases that did not include Elderwood:
- Rutland Health and Rehab, Rutland
- Four Seasons Care Home, Northfield
- Berlin Health and Rehab, Berlin
- Valley Vista, Bradford
- Averill Place, Barre
- Residence at Quarry Hill, South Burlington
"The main way we have to protect these facilities is by protecting our communities, lowering the ability for the virus to spread from one person to another," Levine said.