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South Hutch nursing home up to 40 COVID-19 cases

The Hutchinson News - 10/6/2020

Oct. 5--Forty people at a South Hutchinson nursing home, including 19 staff and 21 residents, have now tested positive for COVID-19.

Officials with Mennonite Friendship Communities said two residents and eight staff among the group are considered recovered, with 30 cases still active. Officials would not say whether any residents have been hospitalized, citing federal medical privacy regulations.

Twenty-six more cases were also added to the ongoing cluster at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility since Friday and two more to the Hutchinson Community College cluster, according to the Reno County Health Department's COVID-19 dashboard.

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is reporting eight confirmed COVID patients in the hospital, including two people who are intubated. Another two people in the hospital are awaiting test results.

The county's disease dashboard shows two people from Reno County were hospitalized since Friday, both in the 70-79 year age range, bringing the number of local people hospitalized back up to three.

At the 110-bed nursing facility, the first cases were reported by Reno County health officials last Tuesday and the count has grown almost daily since.

All COVID-19-positive residents at the nursing home are taken to designated units in separate buildings, away from other residents, stated a news release from the home.

Designated staff members work with infected residents and have no contact with other residents.

Nursing home employees were wearing face masks and using all other state and federally recommended safety precautions before the outbreak, officials said.

In fact, a targeted COVID-19 infection focused survey was conducted by state examiners on Oct. 1 and the facility was found to be in compliance with CMS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended practices, with no deficiencies.

"We are taking every step as recommended by officials to minimize any exposure," stated Deb Cable, Interim Executive Director. "Our first priority is the health and well-being of our residents and our dedicated staff."

Visitation has been restricted to compassionate care situations. Anyone who enters the buildings at MFC, including employees and necessary vendors, are screened and given a health questionnaire. All employees are tested for COVID-19 on a routine basis.

Residents are also screened regularly for symptoms.

MFC management has notified families, staff and residents of possible exposure and provide updates as conditions change, said Kristen Birket, Director of Community Development.

The facility has been sending out a weekly recorded message to families since May.

"MFC will continue to communicate with families on a regular basis about its COVID-19 response," the release stated.

Reno County's overall COVID-19 case count grew by 37 over the weekend, to 1,174 by Monday afternoon. That includes 186 active cases, of which 60 are at the prison.

While the majority of new cases continue to be within Hutchinson zip codes, new cases categorized since Friday include seven in South Hutchinson, two in Nickerson, and one each in Partridge, Haven and the Mount Hope area.

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