CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A nursing employee at a Chesterfield assisted living facility tested positive for COVID-19 last month, officials announced Saturday.
Officials with Lucy Corr, which is home to more than 200 nursing home residents, 48 assisted living residents and 100 independent living residents, said a full-time nursing employee at assisted living tested positive for COVID-19 on March 31.
"The staff member hasn’t been on campus or in contact with any of our residents or other staff members since Sunday, March 22," officials said.
The staffer, who officials said was on leave for treatment of an unrelated condition, has been in contact with their doctors and facility management and is expected to make a full recovery
"Currently, there are no residents in any part of the Lucy Corr community who have tested positive for the virus," administrators said Saturday.
Lucy Corr administrators notified all Assisted Living residents, their family members and staff members when they learned of the case. A written update was sent to other residents and staff Thursday.
“We are working closely with the Virginia Department of Health and have enforced visitor restrictions, deferred almost all outside vendors, and invoked countless other safety precautions since the very early days of this situation to limit exposure to residents, team members, at the community at large,” Lucy Corr CEO Derrick Kendall said. “We continue to screen all staff members before they enter the property for duty and we are also screening all residents daily for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.”
More than 300 employees work at the complex, according to officials.
The health department is investigating several "distinct clusters" of "local transmission" of the virus in Virginia.
One of those is Chesterfield County where there were 106 COVID-19 cases as of Saturday.
Other clusters include 387 cases in Fairfax County, 174 in Henrico County, 160 in Virginia Beach, 159 in Prince William County, 150 in Arlington County, 150 in Loudon County, 111 in James City County and 96 in Richmond.
COVID-19 Precautions
Most patients with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. However, in a small proportion of patients, COVID-19 can lead to more severe illness, including death, particularly among those who are older or those who have chronic medical conditions.
COVID-19 spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms appear within 14 days of being exposed to an infectious person.
Virginia health officials urged the following precautions:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid contact with sick people.Avoid non-essential travel.