COVID-19 Transmission Update– Notification Letter

Dear Residents, Families, and Friends:

We wanted to provide everyone with an update following another round of Covid testing of all staff and residents. There are 3 residents and 2 staff members that have tested positive and 2 resident results are still pending. A resident, who had been on Hospice, did pass away and did also test positive for Covid. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. We have undertaken very careful tracing to ensure all contacts have been notified and we are monitoring the residents who we identified as having contact by taking temperature and oxygen saturations every 4 hours to monitor any change in condition. As of this evening, none of the residents that tested positive have displayed any symptoms. The affected staff members are at home in quarantine and shall remain so until cleared by Los Angeles Public Health to return to work.

We will be testing all staff and residents weekly until we have two consecutive weeks of no new positive results, as required by Los Angeles Public Health. We continue to encourage all residents to abide by the “stay at home” order, by remaining in their apartments, using masks when near staff, and washing hands regularly. We are well supplied and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure proper infection control. Additionally, we continue to utilize electrostatic disinfecting procedures throughout the community.

Effective immediately, any outside companion, caregiver, healthcare practitioner or vendor providing services inside The Gardens will be required to provide proof of a negative Covid test within the past 7 days and upon entry will be screened for temperature, oxygen saturations and will be required to wear PPE. We have concluded that if we are testing all our residents and staff members, the only way we may be certain about the health of outside providers is to require their test results. In the event someone refuses to abide by this policy, we will deny access to the community. Keeping our residents and staff healthy is our top priority.

As reported in the media, the first Covid-19 vaccine has been approved by the FDA and is now being distributed throughout the United States. First Responders and Healthcare Caregivers are first in line to receive the vaccine followed Skilled Nursing/Assisted Living Seniors. We will inform you immediately once we have a date for vaccination administration at The Gardens.

We will keep you updated on an on-going basis. Please reach out with any questions that you may have. I can be reached at dion.gallarza@parkbalboa.com or by phone at (623)499-2892.

Sincerely,

by Dion Gallarza

by Area Executive Director