COVID Mitigation Efforts

Updated August 4, 2020

There are currently no resident cases of COVID-19. There is only one active employee case.

A positive case of COVID-19 has been diagnosed in an employee of Meadowbrook Health Center. The team member is in isolation until is appropriate for them to return to work.  The three previous cases are all considered “recovered”.  We are grateful for their return to good health!

It’s unfortunate that these announcements have become a regular part of life here at Clark-Lindsey, but not a surprise when you consider the county trends.  I know that it can be hard to keep track, so here is a summary of where the confirmed cases stand since the beginning of the pandemic.

We are following recommendations by health authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Weekly testing of residents and employees of the Green House Homes and Meadowbrook Health Center will occur for the foreseeable future.

Champaign County’s active cases continue to grow and according to CUPHD website, on July 31st we are at an all-time high of 223 active cases with 14 currently hospitalized.  There is a new website where you can track the COVID-19 Risk Metrics by county or by region.  If you are interested in learning more, please check out https://www.dph.illinois.gov/countymetrics?county=Adams.

As of the last update, July 24th, Champaign County is categorized as “stable” for the week ended July 18, 2020.  However, the multi-county Region 6 is indicating a steady increase in the positivity rate, which is a trend worth watching.   As of July 27th, the region’s positivity rate was 3.1%

So, what does all of this mean to Clark-Lindsey and to you personally?

The data suggests that we need to continue to be very careful.  As people return to work and school throughout the community, the risk of transmission will continue to increase.  You can protect yourself and your friends by continuing to do these things:

• Wearing a mask over both your mouth and nose (even for short interactions)

• Practicing social/physical distancing (at least six feet from another person)

• Being health-screened every day and reporting any signs and symptoms as soon as you are experiencing them 

• Practicing good hand-washing techniques and using sanitizer frequently 

• Avoiding group gatherings and minimizing trips to public spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained.  This includes indoor restaurants.

And when thinking about participating in a public activity (like going to the store, or visiting a family member, or even walking through Meadowbrook Park on a busy weekend evening), ask yourself these questions:

• Can you avoid crowds or close interaction with people you do not know?

• Can you always keep 6-foot distance from others?

• Can you always wear a mask (and will everyone else be wearing a mask)?

• Is the activity outdoors?

If the answer is “no” to any of these questions, consider avoiding non-essential activities.

If you would like the guide, "Navigating a World with COVID-19: Tips & Tricks From Clark-Lindsey" you can access it HERE.

You can follow the local COVID trends online at   https://www.c-uphd.org/champaign-urbana-illinois-coronavirus-information.html

Earlier in July, the following changes went into effect for The Village (Independent Living):

• Scheduled sales tours are now permitted for wait list members and prospects who are interested in apartments currently on offer in the Village. Each individual tour is limited to three people. Guests will be screened the day prior to their visit as well as screened upon arrival for their tour.
• Water-based exercise classes are now available to Village residents. Class size allows for a maximum of six, including the instructor.  Registration is required.  
• Indoor land-based exercise classes continue to be available with a maximum class size of 10.
• Staff-organized and resident-led activities have group size limitations of 10 for indoor activities and 25 for outdoor activities.
• Weekly complimentary transportation to select area stores (grocery and general merchandise) is now available. Registration through the front desk is required.

 

Coming Later This Summer (after September 1st)

• Limited dining room re-opening.

 

Outdoor Visitors

It is welcome news that visits from family and friends are once again happening for Independent Living Residents on campus!   While outdoor visits are considered safer than indoor visits, there is still enough risk to warrant the following safety precautions (and campus rules):

• Please do not schedule a visit if either you or your visitor is not feeling well.  Ask your visitor if he or she has been exposed to COVID-19 or travelled to areas with high COVID infection rates and ask that they reschedule their visit until more than 14 days has passed.
• Residents that are under quarantine may not have visitors until they are no longer under quarantine precautions.
• All visits must happen outside.  Visitors are not allowed inside the building (this includes no visitor access to toilet facilities).
• All visitors must be age 18 years or older.
• Three visitors are allowed at one time.
• Both the visitor and the resident are required to wear face coverings (masks) throughout the duration of the visit.
• Social distance of a minimum of 6 feet is recommended.

 

Continued Precautions

As Clark-Lindsey cautiously re-opens, you can expect the familiar advice about masks, handwashing, and social distancing to continue.  As a matter of fact, use of certain amenities or participation in activities will require it.  To protect other members of a class or activity (including the staff), face coverings will be required for most indoor activities.

From the CDC website:  “CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States.  We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.  This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.  In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.  CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.  Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.”

You can read more about the recent studies that support mask-wearing as a key strategy in fighting the spread of COVID-19 at  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html The CDC also has updated resources about Daily Life & Coping that includes information about deciding to go out, running errands, and other activities.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/going-out.html

 

Mask Safety for Services in Apartments

For the safety of staff (and residents), when any staff is visiting an apartment, residents must wear a face covering.  This includes when residents are receiving housekeeping or maintenance services.  Residents can also choose to leave the apartment while the services are being performed or cancel their housekeeping if that is their wish.  This also applies to visits from technology support or residential services.

 

Continued Services

We understand that just because you can go out, doesn’t mean that you want to go out.  All residents should continue to exercise caution as they decide what their individual risk tolerance is.  For the time being, we will continue to provide door-to-door delivery of meals and mail.  Concierge grocery service will also continue at no additional charge.  In other words, if you feel safest in your apartment, we will continue to support you in your choice to stay there.  Daily temperatures and check-ins will also continue.

For residents ready to venture out into the world, please consider planning your trips for less busy times.  Bring your mask and your hand sanitizer with you.  And limit your participation in large groups, choosing outdoor gatherings over indoor gatherings and maintaining 6 feet of distance whenever possible.

 

What’s Next

At each point in our re-opening plan, we will review local COVID-19 trends, including new cases in the county, hospital capacity, and testing availability, before further relaxing campus restrictions.  While it is our hope that our “next step” will be towards less restrictions, it is always a possibility that community trends would require us to reinstate previous restrictions for the safety of the overall Clark-Lindsey community. 

 

Meadowbrook Health Center and Green House Homes

The most recent cases involved employees who work closely with residents of the Green House homes and Meadowbrook Health Center.  Following CU Public Health District’s (CUPHD) advice, we tested all Green House and Meadowbrook residents and are pleased to report that all tests came back negative.  During the next few weeks, the Green House homes and Meadowbrook Health Center will have additional precautions in place including additional use of personal protective equipment, suspension of outdoor visits, a hold on any new admissions, and weekly testing of elders and staff who live or work in the Green House homes and Meadowbrook Health Center. 

You may call Meadowbrook Health Center or the Green House Home for updates on the status of your loved one. We understand that you are concerned about your loved one, but it is crucial that we continue to restrict visitation to reduce the spread of this virus. We also understand that connecting with family members is incredibly important to our residents. Family members are encouraged to connect with their loved ones through video chat, calling, texting, or other social media formats.  We are happy to assist you with doing this.

We will contact you if your loved one is suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19.  Updates will be provided weekly, or each subsequent time a confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified and/or whenever three or more residents or staff members with new onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours. 

 

STAFF REQUIREMENTS

All employees are required to wear masks. Prior to the start of their shift, all employees are screened for signs and symptoms of COVID, including having their temperatures taken. This process is repeated midway through their shift for those employees working 4 or more hours. Staff are required to wash their hands upon entering the building. Additional break rooms have been established so that staff may maximize their time on their unit. Staff who work in the isolation unit of Meadowbrook Health Center change into Clark-Lindsey provided scrubs when they arrive for duty, and change back into their street clothes before they leave.

Questions?
If you have any questions, or are a family member interested in receiving regular email updates related to COVID-19, please email us at Residential retire@clark-lindsey.com or call the front desk at 344-2144.

Click HERE to see the measures that Clark-Lindsey has previously taken.

Minimum Safety Protocol Required for All Individuals

• Maintain at least 6-8 feet separation from other individuals not within the same household
• All residents are recommended to wear a face covering (over the nose and mouth) while outside the home, as tolerated. While a face covering is not required outdoors, it is recommended if feasible and tolerable. A cloth face covering is recommended when in the presence of any other person not within the same household while indoors.
• Routine cleanliness and hand sanitation should be rigorously practiced. Wash or disinfect hands upon leaving home and after any interaction with others or 'high touch' surfaces-- even while practicing social distancing. Make sure to wash your hands upon your return home too.
• Self-screen for any of the following symptoms of possible COVID-19 before leaving your home. If you experience any of these symptoms , stay home. If the symptoms are unusual for you, more severe than usual or worsening, stay home and contact Resident Services through the front desk 217-344-2144:

1. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
2. Chills
3. Repeated shaking with chills
4. Muscle pain
5. Headache
6. Sore throat
7. Loss of taste or smell
8. Diarrhea
9. Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 degrees above your normal temp
10. Known close contact with a person who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19

What to Do If You Don't Feel Well

If you have new signs or symptoms, please stay in your home and call the Front Desk so that Resident Services can follow-up with you. Do not leave your home if you are not feeling well. Please call 911 in an emergency. 

In addition to reporting new signs or symptoms to Resident Services, below are some useful COVID hotlines to call. Each of them will help you to decide what steps to take next, and all are recommending that you call either your provider or the hotline BEFORE arriving at the clinic or hosptial. 

• Carle                           217.902.6100

(select 1 for patients. If someone doesn't answer, you have two options: select 1 for COVID information, select 2 if you are experiencing symptoms and you will be transferred to a patient advisory nurse / available 24/7)

• Christie Clinic           217.366.4070

(available Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm only)

• OSF                             833.673.5669

(select 1 for frequently asked questions only, select 2 if experiencing symptoms / available 7 days a week 7am to 11pm)