Pacific Hills Manor, a skilled nursing home in Morgan Hill, revealed this week that a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19.
The unidentified staff member last worked at Pacific Hills Manor, located on Noble Court, on April 7, reads an April 19 press release from the facility’s management. When the staff member left work that day, they were not feeling well. The employee tested positive for COVID-19 on April 8.
No other staff members or residents of Pacific Hills Manor have tested positive for the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, according to Cindy Stein, spokeswoman for Covenant Care, the company that owns the Morgan Hill nursing home.
“We share this information because we believe it is important to everyone’s health and well-being to keep our residents, families, staff and the public fully informed,” reads the April 19 press release from Pacific Hills Manor.
The release added that three residents and two staff members who may have been exposed were informed about the employee who tested positive, and are being monitored for any signs or symptoms associated with the virus. None have shown any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 as of April 20.
“Providing for the safety and well-being of our residents and staff is our paramount priority,” the press release adds.
Pacific Hills residents are being actively monitored for any signs or symptoms of respiratory concerns—a common symptom of COVID-19—reads the press release. This monitoring includes checking staff members’ temperatures daily.
Furthermore, all staff, medical personnel and vendors are “clinically screened” prior to entering the facility. This screening entails temperature checks and the use of personal protective equipment appropriate for their duties. Visitors are prohibited during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Please know that we have followed, and will continue follow, the guidance set forth for privacy, patient care, employee safety and efforts to help limit the spread of COVID-19 as provided by the California Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS),” reads the press release.
Pacific Hills Manor posted the press release to its website two days after a Times reporter asked staff to confirm reports of a COVID-19 case in the facility.
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department earlier this month began releasing data about COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations among local long-term care facilities (including skilled nursing homes). As of April 20, there have been 338 cases of COVID-19 reported among 24 long-term care facilities in Santa Clara County. These cases include 26 deaths and 48 hospitalizations.
Among all Santa Clara County residents and age groups, a total of 1,870 COVID-19 cases have been reported on the public health department’s website. These include 73 deaths.
