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COVID-19 hits Arkansas nursing homes

Health officials have announced 96 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas. Of those 96 cases, 26 are adults who are 65 and older.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark — The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is working closely with the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Arkansas Healthcare Association to address cases of COVID-19 in three nursing homes across the state. 

The nursing homes affected are Apple Creek Nursing and Rehab in Centerton, The Villages of General Baptist West in Pine Bluff and Briarwood Nursing Home and Rehab in Little Rock.

Currently, there is one patient that has tested positive for COVID-19 at both Apple Creek Nursing and Rehab and The Villages of General Baptist West. 

13 cases, nine residents and four staff members, have tested positive at Briarwood Nursing Home and Rehab in Little Rock. This comes after one resident initially tested positive, totaling 14. ADH is currently screening all other staff and residents for COVID-19 at Briarwood, and ADH staff are now onsite at Briarwood. 

The patient in Pine Bluff was likely exposed to the virus from a staff member who was exposed to the first confirmed case, health officials said.

On Friday (March 20) health officials announced 96 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas. Of those 96 cases, 26 are adults who are 65 and older.

People above the age of 65 are at a higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19. 

In an effort to limit exposure to COVID-19, ADH issued a directive on March 13, 2020, prohibiting visitation to nursing homes, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, post-acute head injury retraining and residential care facilities, and any other facility that provides long-term medical or personal care. 

Anyone needing to enter one of these facilities is subject to screening. The directive is in place until April 12, 2020.

With no visitors allowed inside, it brings a lot of uncertainty to loved ones.

“It’s not my grandparent that’s in there that’s my child and for me that changes a lot of things,” Shelly Hale said.

In a moment's notice, a mother's unthinkable fear became a reality. Apple Creek Nursing and Rehab Center, the place Hale's 28-year-old daughter with specific health needs calls home, is where the first Benton County case of COVID-19 has been confirmed.

“I hadn’t heard of anything in Bentonville, Centerton anywhere near here and suddenly, suddenly the first case is in the very facility that my child is in so yeah that’s alarming,” Hale said.

The fast-spreading virus has the facility on lockdown, leaving loved ones a window apart. 

For Hale, focusing on day to day life and video chatting her daughter is what's getting both of them through this stressful time.

“I can tell that that affects her and she gets happy and excited when I am able to talk to her so that’s encouraging, it would be different if I wasn’t able to have those video chats,” Hale said.

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Arkansas Health Care Association executive director, Rachel Bunch issued the following statement regarding positive diagnosis of COVID-19 in three nursing homes:

“Our association is aware that three of our member nursing homes have reported positive COVID-19 diagnoses. Affected homes are in Benton, Jefferson and Pulaski Counties. The patients in all facilities are receiving the medical care they need and those who were diagnosed have been isolated from others. We are in communication with our facilities, Arkansas Department of Health and Arkansas Department of Human Services to ensure patients have the care they need and prescribed procedures are being followed.

On March 12, 2020, AHCA shared ADH visitor screening protocols with all members.  However, it is difficult to prevent transmission of this virus because it has an incubation period of as long as 14 days, and can be present in an asymptomatic individual.  

Staff members at all three nursing homes followed the CDC guidelines for screening symptoms of COVID-19 and took immediate action. They contacted public health officials, implemented protective protocols and have begun the process of notifying residents, families and staff members. We are doing everything we can to ensure we stop the spread of COVID-19 within our facilities. We are in very close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking the appropriate steps at this time. Our staff and residents continue to take all recommended preventative actions, we have restricted visitors from entering our facilities, and cancelled all group activities until the virus has been contained.

Protecting the health and well-being of our residents and employees remains our top priority. We continue to be on high alert and will take every precautionary step possible. On behalf of our association, I thank nursing home employees across Arkansas who are going above and beyond the call of duty to provide compassionate care to their residents.”

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