Press Update 4/1/2020
The Carroll County Health Department today announced nine additional cases of COVID-19 in the county. No new cases have been identified related to Pleasant View Nursing Home.
Five of the cases are community members: a man in his 20s, a man in his 30s, a man in his 40s, a woman in her 50s, and a man in his 80s. Three additional cases are residents at Carroll Lutheran Village, who are recent transfers to the facility from two Maryland hospitals. They include a woman in her 60s and two women in their 80s. These patients are in private isolation rooms. The ninth Carroll County case is a Carroll Lutheran Village employee in her 20s who is self-isolating at home.
Health Department and Maryland Department of Health staff met by phone with facility staff to review infection control procedures. “We are in daily contact with Health Officer Ed Singer and his staff from the Carroll County Health Department, as well as staff from the Maryland Department of Health,” said Ken Connelly, Vice President of Operations, Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland. “We continue to adhere to all protocols and recommendations from these agencies to help prevent further spread of the coronavirus.”
Carroll Lutheran Village continues to monitor all residents and team members and require anyone exhibiting symptoms to self-isolate and seek medical care if needed. Team members are screened for temperature and symptoms at the start of each shift, and patients are screened three times a day or more as medically required. Health care staff continue to use the recommended personal protective equipment; nursing staff is being assigned to the same units to minimize exposure risk. Administrative staff has been relocated to another part of the campus.
All resident test results have now been reported from Pleasant View Nursing Home. There are 77 total positive COVID-19 cases, all facility residents. Eighteen of the facility’s 95 residents tested negative. Symptomatic staff at Pleasant View were tested yesterday; results are pending. The Health Department will follow up with individuals as indicated.
On Friday, March 27th, the Carroll County Health Department visited the Pleasant View Nursing Home and reported the first positive cases at the facility. The Carroll County Health Department consulted with the Maryland Department of Health to put in place additional infection control measures.
On Monday, March 30th, the National Guard deployed a medic unit to help assess all residents, with personal protective equipment provided by the Maryland Department of Health. After triage from the National Guard, a number of patients were transported to area hospitals in order to receive a higher level of care.
The Health Department continues to have a physician on site to monitor patients, and continues to provide administrative support and resources to help protect the health and safety of Pleasant View Mount Airy patients and health care workers. Support has been provided by many local and state partners, including staffing and equipment from Carroll Hospital and oxygen concentrators from the Maryland Department of Health. Pleasant View administrative staff continue to provide support for patients and families. Maryland Responds volunteers have also been serving at the site.
On March 10, the Maryland Department of Health issued guidance for long-term and continuing care facilities. Information and resources regarding COVID-19 are available at coronavirus.maryland.gov or cchd.maryland.gov/covid-19.