COVID Mitigation Effort

Updated October 16, 2020

 

Positive Cases – Recap

Last night, we received news of one new positive case for an employee of Meadowbrook Health Center.   All Meadowbrook Health Center and Green House Home residents have been tested this week and results have all come back as negative.  As of today, here’s where we stand in terms of active cases:

4 employees are isolated at home

3 Village residents are isolated in their apartments

1 Meadorbrook Health Center resident is in isolation

So long as there is no unexpected change in status, we anticipate the three employees will be considered recovered and will be able to return to work as of tomorrow.   All other previously reported cases are considered recovered.  We wish everyone a fast and full recovery as they observe their periods of isolation. 

It’s only natural that this week’s events would raise questions about what it means to be on the quarantine list.  As a reminder of why a resident’s name might show up on the list, here’s a recap of the events that might trigger a quarantine:

• A member of the household has recently been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19
• A member of the household was out of the building overnight or has recently moved into Clark-Lindsey
• A member of the household has signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (but has not necessarily tested positive)
• A member of the household has tested positive for COVID-19

 

To protect people’s privacy, we will not share why a resident is on the quarantine list or share whether a resident has tested positive.   Quarantines are usually between 10 to 14 days, depending on the reason for the quarantine.  We follow the guidelines set by CDC which are consistent with advice from the Champaign Urbana Public Health Department (CUPHD).  While residents are on quarantine, special efforts are made to make sure that they continue to get their mail and regular check-ins on how they are faring. 

We’ve also heard a few questions about the accuracy of the tests we are using.  On this question, we double-checked with Julie Pryde, Public Health Administrator.  She confirmed that the laboratory tests we are using are of the highest quality currently available.  And while the nasal swab test may return false negatives, it rarely returns a false positive.  When we receive a positive result, it does not matter what results a repeated test might yield - Public Health (and Clark-Lindsey) continues to treat the case as a positive case and follow all isolation precautions.

The virus continues to be present out in the broader Champaign County community.  According to the CUPHD’s website, the number of active cases in Champaign County is at 364 active (in isolation) cases and 1,052 active close contacts in quarantine.  Currently there are 5 hospitalized.  You can visit the CUPHD website for more information about local trends:  https://www.c-uphd.org/champaign-urbana-illinois-coronavirus-information.html

 

Additional COVID-19 Testing for Village Residents

Clark-Lindsey will be providing COVID-19 testing for apartment and villa residents this Monday, October 19th.  We especially encourage those who weren’t able to be tested during the last clinic to be tested on Monday. 

The testing clinic will once again be held in the Huegy Lounge and is available to all Village residents wishing to participate with the exception of those in quarantine.

 

Finding out your results:  If your test comes back positive you will be notified by either your physician or by Clark-Lindsey staff as soon as we have the results (usually within 48 hours).  If you are a Carle patient, your results will be uploaded to your MyCarle patient portal.  If you do not hear from a Clark-Lindsey staff member about your results, you can assume that you are negative.

 

Paying for your test:  The testing fees will be billed to your insurance

Most of our recent cases are asymptomatic, emphasizing how important it is to always practice infection prevention (wearing masks, keeping at least six feet of distance, and washing hands regularly) as you never know when you may become exposed.

As we wait on the results of next week’s testing, we have decided to continue our suspension of several services.  The following services or spaces will remain closed until further notice:

• Salon services
• Fitness and small group activities (indoors and outdoors)
• Fitness Center and Pool
• Apartment housekeeping services and non-emergency maintenance orders
• Lunch in the Laing Dining Room
• Technology assistance
• Coffee service in the Wellness Lobby
• The Business Office (please call 239-6336 if you have any billing questions)

Transportation will continue to be provided, except for group transportation, which will be rescheduled as individual trips depending on driver availability. The Front Desk will contact you if a change in your appointment time is required.

Extra cleaning and disinfection continue to be done by our housekeeping staff throughout the public spaces.

Villa residents may also continue to come into the building at this time.

As of now, Independent Living residents may continue to leave campus and outdoor visits may also continue.

Please continue to follow safety precautions by wearing your face coverings when outside of your apartment and maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from people who are not part of your immediate household.  You are required to wear a face covering when within six feet of staff.  This includes during meal and mail delivery and during temperature checks.  Thank you for doing your part to keep one another and our staff safe.

Infection Control Focused Survey

It’s official – the focused survey on infection control of our skilled nursing that started on October 8th is now complete and we are pleased to report that there were no “deficiencies” cited.  

We are very proud of our team!  They continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to doing whatever it takes to keep residents safe.

 

Outdoor Visits

In preparation for the impending colder weather we have ordered several tents equipped with heaters.  Greg Maxson, Grounds Supervisor, and his team will be setting them up as soon as we can.  Our hopes are to have them here in a week or so.  In addition to visitor stations in our health care setting, we will also be providing a space for Village resident outdoor visits too.

 

• Maintain at least 6-8 feet separation from other individuals not within the same household.
• All residents are required to wear a face covering (over the nose and mouth) while outside the home, unless eating or drinking. While a face covering is not required outdoors, it is recommended if feasible and tolerable. A cloth face covering is recommended 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 the symptoms, stay home. If the symptoms are unusual for you, more severe than usual or worsening, stay home and contact the Resident Services through the front desk 217-344-2144.

Quarantine Rules for Independent Living
Given the increased requirements and enforcement of using face coverings in public spaces (and within Clark-Lindsey’s commons space), it seems appropriate to re-evaluate the rules surrounding quarantine.

As a reminder, the 14-day quarantine is required when a resident has new signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or when there is a confirmed positive diagnosis of COVID-19, or when the resident has had possible exposure to COVID-19.  The current rule that an overnight stay off the Clark-Lindsey campus automatically triggers a 14-day quarantine is to protect the Clark-Lindsey community from “possible exposure.”

Our standard quarantine rule requires you to stay in your apartment for 14 days after an overnight absence from your apartment.  During this Standard Quarantine period, you may only leave your apartment to go to or return from a medical appointment.  We understand that 14 days within the same apartment can feel like a very long time!

The Modified Quarantine, which is also 14 days, allows for you to leave your apartment to go to the nearest exit of the building and then return directly to your apartment via the most direct path.  While you aren’t permitted to use the fitness center, pool, library or other commons space or participate in on-campus group activities during the Modified Quarantine period, you can leave the building to pick up prescriptions, conduct banking, or even just get outside for a walk around the grounds.  

The Standard Quarantine will still be required following an overnight hospital stay or whenever you cannot answer “no” to any of the screening questions. Screening questions change from time to time, but currently, a “yes” answer to any of these questions would require the full Standard Quarantine.

1. Have you had a diagnosis of COVID-19 and it is before completing the appropriate period of isolation?

2. Have you had prolonged close contact with a person with COVID-19 while not using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during the last 14 days?

3. Do you have new signs or symptoms of:  Fever, Chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea?

4. In the last 14 days, have you traveled internationally or been on a cruise ship?

There may be additional travel situations that would require a Standard Quarantine, depending on where you may be travelling or your exposure to large crowds.  Prior to making travel plans, please check with Residential Services so you know what kind of quarantine experience to expect.

Door Fob Reactivation
Effective Friday, September 25th, apartment resident door fobs have been reactivated to allow access to the building from any of the exterior doors in the Independent Living areas of the campus. Villa residents will continue to be required to enter the main entrance so that they can be screened prior to entry. 

This is important, especially for residents with mobility limitations and those who have had to walk longer than usual distances to access their vehicles. This change merits a few reminders with respect to building access:

• At the current time, visitors are not allowed in the building. Please do not give your building access to anyone, including friends or family. This expanded access is for apartment residents only. All villa residents, staff and others permitted access are required to be screened prior to entry.
• Outdoor visits with family and/or friends continue to be permitted, just no indoor visits at this time.
• Fobs should not be given to third party caregivers. They are required to be screened upon entry. Violation of this could result in individual caregivers and/or the agency they work for no longer being permitted access to the campus.
• While it might be a friendly gesture on your part, you should not let staff in the building. They are required to go through a screening station at the beginning of their shift and again at mid-shift. Staff who need access through various exterior doors as a part of their job have active fobs. 
• Please wash your hands as soon as practical anytime you enter the building from outside.
• If you observe anyone accessing the building that don't meet the criteria explained here, please report it to Residential Services at residentsupport@clark-lindsey.com.

We still 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

 

Liang Dining Room Postponed
Given the recent increase in positive cases, we have decided to postpone the reopening of the Laing Dining room until at least October 26. The staff have been working very hard to be ready to welcome residents back and share in their disappointment that we will have to wait a little longer.  More information about how to use the reservation system will be coming next week.  

 

Outdoor Visitors - Independent Living
Visits from family and friends are 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 Independent Living 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

Meadowbrook Heath Center and the Green House Homes have entered into Phase 1 as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Here is a summary of those changes:

All residents who are not in isolation or quarantine due to known or suspected COVID-19 infection or exposure are allowed to receive outdoor visitors.

The beauty salon in each Green House Home and in Meadowbrook are closed until further notice.

As of October 8th, all outdoor visits are canceled at this time for the Green House Homes and for Meadowbrook for the next 14 days.  We can schedule virtual visits during this two week period.

You may call Meadowbrook Health Center or the Green House Homes for updates on the status of your loved one. 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

Patients should call the COVID-19 Hotline to be assessed and directed to the appropriate location for care. Your provider may address many health needs by phone or virtual visits in accordance with social distancing best practice. All Carle Emergency Departments remain open for people needing immediate care for life-threatening emergencies. 

• Christie Clinic           

Patients with questions or concerns or who want to inquire about testing are asked to call their provider's office. Christie Clinic Curbside Convenient Care is also open at 1801 West Windsor Road, Champaign. 

• OSF                                                                                    833.673.5669

The COVID-19 Nurse Hotline is staffed by OSF registered nurses around the clock. OSF SilverCloud is an online platform available at http://osfhealthcare.org/silvercloud, available to help manage stress, anxiety and depression. OSF HealthCare is offering video visits for those who prefer to see their physician from the comfort of their home. 

• Champaign-Urbana Public Health District           217.239.7877

​CUPHD's COVID hotline is available seven days a week between the hours of 8am and 5pm. If you do not reach a person, leave a voicemail that includes your name and phone number with a brief message.

• IDPH                                                                                   800.889.3931

​General information, how to protect yourself, what to do if exposed to someone with COVID-19.