To all Seneca View Residents and Families:
We are contacting you today to let you know that we are experiencing a quick onset of COVID-19 cases among residents and staff of Seneca View. Following the Labor Day holiday weekend, we have had new cases confirmed through twice weekly testing and increased surveillance for signs and symptoms of any illness. At this time we have 19 residents, and 19 staff members, that have tested positive. All family members of the affected residents have been contacted and the staff members have been removed from the schedule for the required quarantine period.
Following the end of the State and National Public Health Emergencies earlier this year, many of the rules associated with COVID-19 prevention and reporting were discontinued. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight for you the processes that we currently have in place to contain any outbreaks, and keep close family members informed.
Our current practice consists of notifying the resident(s), and their family contact, any time a resident, or their roommate, may test positive. We are also informing the families of any non-positive resident/ roommate that may have had an exposure, or who has been temporarily relocated away from any positive case, to prevent further spreading. If your resident, or their roommate, has had a positive case you will have already been informed prior to this update. Weekly updates will continue going forward until the outbreak has ended.
Furthermore, if we learn of any positive staff member, or visitor exposures, the facility elevates its infection prevention practices to surgical masks at all times in care areas, or in the presence of other residents, staff, and guests. When we learn of any positive resident the infection prevention practices escalate to full precautions with gloves, gowns, face shields, and N-95 masks. All guests will encounter informative signage upon entering the facility, indicating the level of any enhanced precautions underway.
Social distancing and infection prevention practices are still strongly encouraged for all visitors to the nursing home. We ask that you please postpone your visit if you are exhibiting any symptoms of illness.
Please feel free to contact our Nursing Units, the Director of Nursing, or my office if you have any questions. You can also reach our NYS Ombudsman team, Tricia Chevallard, at (607) 274-5492, or Kate Lyon, at (607) 274-5437, if you need.
Warmest Regards,
Patrick J. Ryan
Executive Director LTC Services
Administrator – Seneca View Skilled Nursing
