One of Gilmer County’s long-term-care facilities has been battling an outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus) for more than a month.
Parkside Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Ellijay had 64 residents who were positive for the coronavirus with eight deaths at the facility, according to the Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Report on the Georgia Department of Community Health website as of Monday, Oct. 19. Resident census hovered between 93 and 81 in reports for four different days.
Thirty-three Parkside staff were listed as being positive for coronavirus in the report.
“The NGHD Long-Term Care Team supports Nursing Homes (LTCF/SNF), Assisted Living, Personal Care and Rehab facilities during outbreaks,” said Tammy Bowling, RN, BSN, an infectious disease public health nurse at North Georgia Health District. “Our team provides education on infection control and prevention for facilities, interviews and educates cases and contacts in both residents and staff, manages outbreak testing as needed and maintains reports of COVID-19 numbers in these facilities.
“Additionally, the LTC Team partners with the DPH State Infection Preventionists when they conduct Infection Control Assessment visits, doing virtual reviews and walk-throughs of the facilities so we can see firsthand what is happening in the facility.”
At Parkside the first resident tested positive on Sept. 11, Bowling said.
“It seems to be following the typical pattern of our large outbreaks with a few cases in the beginning, a quick build, then a slowdown,” Bowling said.
Parkside is currently on “lockdown” with visitors only allowed for compassionate end-of-life care and medical staff necessary for resident care, she said.
Ill residents are being separated from other residents and being housed on a COVID-19 unit, according to Bowling.
With staff being positive for the virus, Parkside reached out to Gilmer County Pubic Safety Director Keith Kucera for assistance.
He put in a request with Georgia Emergency Management Agency which has a contract with a staffing agency to provide additional staffing on Oct. 13.
“The state has worked with Parkside to supplement their needs,” Kucera said.
Bowling said once the facility gets past the outbreak, they will follow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines for reopening.
Calls to Parkside Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Ellijay administration were not returned at press time.