Team Member Updates – Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Cumberland County is now in “substantial spread” and we are responding to outbreaks in multiple areas on campus. Initiate substantial/high protocols for all Messiah Village as described on this chart.

1 EL resident tested positive yesterday 5/1/22 from the Hopewell neighborhood. The resident will be moved to the red zone today. 

Hopewell residents and team members will continue to be tested during routine testing dates. 

PPE implications:

• As listed on the chart: All team members in EL & N must wear an N95 & Face Shield. 

Testing:

• Due to Cumberland County increasing to “Substantial,” routine testing is now 2x per week.
• If you have been alerted to the need to participate in retesting due to exposure, report to testing as directed.
• Alert your supervisor immediately if you have symptoms and arrange for testing asap. Do not report to work.

The Team Member COVID-19 procedures by transmission level document can be found in full on the Sync (along left side menu) and at the top of this blog page.

Nursing Care:

1 support services team member tested positive today who worked in Nursing during their exposure window. The residents who were exposed have been notified and will be tested. All Nursing neighborhoods have been impacted by this exposure. Advantage Care team members will be tested tomorrow and will also join routine testing next week.

PPE implications:

• All Nursing team members will need to wear face shields in addition to procedure masks.

Residential Living:

We were notified today of 5 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Residential Living – 4 in the Village Commons building and 1 in a cottage. As a result, all group activities in the Village Commons are being canceled or postponed through at least April 30 pending no additional positive cases. Activities will continue in Village Square, but we will be following “high” protocols until the outbreak is resolved. 

Refer to the PPE requirements for RL team members while in Outbreak status as outlined on the transmission chart shared last week:

There is 1 EL team member who is positive for COVID-19 with no exposures on campus.

There is 1 Adult Day Client who is positive for COVID-19. Anyone who was exposed has been notified and is wearing additional PPE

COVID-19 Procedures by transmission level:

In an effort to provide a clear overview of Covid procedures that will be in effect based on county transmission level, this document was developed. We are currently in moderate transmission.

Our Infection Preventionist, Corinne Miller, monitors the CDC’s dashboard for healthcare facilities paying particular attention to the county transmission rate for Cumberland County to determine our current transmission level and corresponding response as an organization. 

As the need occurs to pivot procedures based on Covid transmission levels, a notification to OC will be sent along with a reminder of what is in the attached chart. Please implement the procedures based on each level immediately with your team when notified of a change in transmission level. 

Please review this guidance to ensure understanding and compliance. It is also available on Sync along the left side menu titled “COVID-19 procedures by transmission level” and linked at the top of this blog page.

Please read below for changes to COVID-19 protocols going into effect today:

Why these changes now? The CDC’s Covid monitoring dashboard for healthcare facilities currently rates Cumberland County as an area with moderate transmission rates for 2 consecutive weeks, and we’ve continued to have no active cases on campus.

Therefore, the following changes will go into effect immediately:

*Remember that Laurel Main is currently experiencing an influenza outbreak. Please follow the influenza precautions that are in place in Laurel at this time, even if they are different from what is found below.

Organization-wide

• Routine Testing – Reduced to 1x per week on Mondays
  • Who:  All team members who are not “up-to-date” on COVID-19 vaccination, have been approved for an exemption, or have a known exposure.
  • When:  Mondays, 7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm 
  • Where:  Village Center chapel door
• Plexi-glass – You should have begun seeing these removed. Corinne has been assessing where plexi-glass is currently placed and has recommended areas for removal.

Village Center

• Face shields – are no longer required to be worn by team members in Nursing and Enhanced Living neighborhoods who are up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Team members who work in EL and Nursing neighborhoods and/or are in direct contact with residents who are not up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations or have been approved for an exemption may reduce to procedure masks (rather than N95s), but must continue to wear face shields.
  • Procedure masks provided by Messiah Lifeways continue to be required. N95s are also available if anyone would prefer the added protection. Use the procedure masks provided by Messiah Lifeways because we can ensure that they meet FDA standards and are made from material that has been proven to reduce droplet transmission. 
• Accushield badges – to reduce waste, the sticker badges will only be printed for visitors.
  • However, all team members must continue to screen in at the start of your shift in Village Center. This is a core principle of infection prevention – audits will be done to ensure compliance.

Residential Living

We are working on some adjustments to resident guidance, transportation, and room capacities, but no significant changes to team member protocols. We will send these updates out to RL team members and residents this week.

• Procedure masks are still required to be worn by team members until further notice.
• Team members who are not up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations or have been approved for an exemption must continue to wear a face shield when in direct contact with residents.

Please note: 

• If the county moves to “low” and stays in low for two consecutive weeks, we will step down in precautions again, including reducing testing frequency.
• If the county moves to “substantial” or “high” OR a positive COVID-19 case is detected on campus, testing frequency and level of PPE will increase.

We plan to send out something to clarify what happens in each level later this week so stay tuned…

Please reach out to Corinne Miller, Infection Preventionist, at cmiller@messiahlifeways.org if you have any questions.

Thankfully, all rapid tests yesterday came back negative! It’s now been more than 14 days since our last positive case, and levels of community spread are steadily decreasing. 

Current transmission level in Cumberland County is “Substantial” according to the CDC.

Therefore, the following changes to PPE guidelines are effective immediately:

For team members who work or enter Nursing and EL neighborhoods*:

• Use of N95s can be discontinued, and procedure masks worn instead.
  • N95s are available for any team member who would like to continue wearing one.
• Face shields must continue to be worn until further notice (the community spread threshold must reach “low”)

*Note the following exceptions: N95s must continue to be worn in Nursing and EL neighborhoods and when interacting with residents by:

• Unvaccinated team members who have approved exemptions
• Vaccinated** team members who have been exposed to a Covid-19 positive individual.

For all team members in Village Center office areas and Residential Living*:

• Face shields may be discontinued. Please continue to wear procedure masks until further notice (community spread thresholds must reach “low”).

*Note the following exceptions: N95 masks with face shields must be worn by:

• Unvaccinated team members when in direct contact with residents
• Vaccinated** team members who have been exposed to a Covid-19 positive individual.

**For the purpose of PPE, vaccinated refers to at minimum the original 1 or 2 dose series.

Please continue to remain physically distanced when possible to prevent unnecessary exposures.

Testing

There are no changes to routine testing at this time. The county transmission rate has not yet dropped low enough to reduce to once a week testing, but we will update you when it does.

• Reminder: Routine testing includes all team members who not up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations (Are unvaccinated or have not received a booster if eligible)

The red zone closed today! Thankfully the last resident who recently tested positive is considered recovered and moved back to their neighborhood. 

Test results since last update:

1 Nursing team member who last worked in Wagner/Hampden tested positive. Any residents who met exposure criteria have been notified.

Next Routine/Exposure testing date:

Monday, 2/21  –  Village Center chapel door

7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm 

February 14, 2022 @ 5:25 pm

2 additional residents recovered and moved out of the red zone since the last update. Sadly, 1 additional resident who recently tested positive for Covid passed away. There is currently 1 resident who continues to receive care in the Cumberland red zone.

Test results since last update:

Yesterday, 1 Nursing team member tested positive who last worked in Wagner/Hampden neighborhoods. Any residents who met exposure criteria have been notified.

Routine testing took place today and all team members who were rapid tested, tested negative!

Next Routine/Exposure testing date:

Thursday, 2/17  –  Village Center chapel door

7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm 

Friday 11, 2022 @ 5:10 pm

1 Enhanced Living team member tested positive with no known exposures on campus.

Thursday, February 10, 2022 @ 5:05 pm

Thankfully, 2 additional residents recovered and moved out of the red zone since the last update. Sadly, 1 Nursing resident who recently tested positive for Covid passed away. There continue to be 4 residents receiving care in the Cumberland red zone.

Test results since last update:

2 team members tested positive: 

• 1 from Nursing who last worked in Donegal and Asper – any residents/POAs of residents who met exposure criteria have been notified.
• 1 from support services who has not worked within the exposure window.

Next Routine/Exposure testing date:

Monday, 2/14  –  Village Center chapel door

7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm 

Thankfully, 5 residents recovered and moved out of the red zone over the weekend!

Test results since last update:

• 1 Nursing resident from Hampden tested positive and has been relocated to the Cumberland red zone.
• 2 Residential Living residents tested positive: 1 who lives in Village Square and 1 who lives in Village Commons. Anyone who met exposure criteria has been notified.
• 3 team members tested positive, but did not work within the exposure window (2 from Nursing and 1 from At Home)

Next Routine/Exposure testing date:

Thursday, 2/10  –  Village Center chapel door

7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm 

Testing will be for:

• All Wagner/Hampden team members, regardless of vaccination status
• Any team member who has been notified of the need to be tested due to exposure.
• All unvaccinated team members

PPE Reminder:

Reminder that masks AND face shields should be worn by all team members whenever within 6 ft of another individual until further notice.

Test results since last update:

• 1 Nursing resident from Wagner tested positive.
• 1 support services team member tested positive, but has not worked within the exposure window.

Next Routine/Exposure testing date:

Monday, 2/7  –  Village Center chapel door

7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm 

Thursday, February 3, 2022 @ 5:20 pm

Test results since last update:

• 1 Nursing resident from the Hampden neighborhood tested positive and has been transferred to the red zone.
  • There are now a total of 11 residents in the red zone (4 from Nursing, 7 from EL).
• 1 support services team member tested positive with no known exposures.

Next Routine/Exposure testing date:

Monday, 2/7  –  Village Center chapel door

7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 @ 6:50 pm

Test results since last update:

• 1 Nursing resident from the Hampden neighborhood tested positive and has been transferred to the red zone.
  • There are now a total of 10 residents in the red zone (3 from Nursing, 7 from EL).
• 3 additional team members tested positive:
  • 1 Nursing team member who last worked in Wagner – any residents who met exposure criteria have been notified.
  • 2 support services team members with no known exposures.

Next Routine/Exposure testing date:

TOMORROW Thursday, 2/3  –  Village Center chapel door

7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm 

• All Wagner/Hampden team members
• ACR
• Any EL team members who have been notified by their supervisors
• Any other team members who have been notified of the need for exposure testing
• All unvaccinated team members

We need your help: please follow PPE guidance to prevent further positives and exposures, regardless of your department or vaccination status. There’s a direct correlation between improper PPE use and the growing positive cases:

• Wear a mask AND face shield when within 6 feet of any individual (including team members)
• Wear an N95 AND face shield if you’ve been exposed (and boosted so permitted to work) or in an EL/Nursing neighborhood.

Test results since our last update:

• 2 additional Enhanced Living residents from Nittany tested positive since the last update. Both have been transferred to the Cumberland red zone. Anyone who was exposed has been notified. 
• 1 Nursing resident from the Wagner neighborhood also tested positive and was transferred to the red zone
  • There are now a total of 8 residents in the red zone.
• 2 support services team members tested positive with no known exposure on campus.

Next testing date:

All routine testing takes place at the Village Center chapel door, 7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm.

• Monday, 1/31: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing, all team members who have met exposure criteria in or outside of Messiah Lifeways, any EL team members who have been notified of the need to participate in retesting by their supervisors, Wagner/Hampden, Laundry, ACR, Campus Services office, and Nursing activities team members. 

New Screening Entrance:

In an effort to allow more team members to park and enter the building closer to their work locations and to reduce congestion in the main lobby, we are moving one of the Accushield screening kiosks to Door #64 (Donegal entrance). Starting Monday, January 31, it will be badge access only like the Bailey Street one – no visitors, vendors, or family members should be using this as an entrance or exit. Remember that visitors need to sign out – so they cannot and should not exit through this door.

ONLY team members who work in Donegal, Asper, Cumberland/Redzone, Laundry, and Maintenance (if practical by walking down towards laundry) may start using this entrance. Other team members should continue to enter through the Main Entrance or Bailey Street to ensure there is no unnecessary traffic through Donegal. Do NOT use Donegal as a thoroughfare, unless you work on Asper.

Test results since our last update:

• 4 Enhanced Living residents (three from Nittany and one from Laurel Upper) tested positive since the last update. All have been transferred to the Cumberland red zone. Anyone who was exposed has been notified.
• 9 additional team members have tested positive:
  • 1 Nursing team member who last worked in Asper – no resident exposure; any team members who met exposure criteria have been notified.
  • 4 Enhanced Living team members – one from Laurel Main, two from Laurel Upper, and one from Nittany – any residents and/or team members who met exposure criteria are being notified
  • 1 Residential Living team member – no resident exposure; any team members who met exposure criteria have been notified.
  • 1 support services team member – any team members who met exposure criteria have been notified.
  • 2 support services team members with no known exposures on campus

This makes over 80 team members who’ve tested positive since January 1, 2022. Please take precautions and avoid exposure – the positivity rate in Cumberland County remains at an all time high of 36.6%. 

Thankfully, 1 EL resident recovered and moved back to Laurel Upper and 1 Nursing resident recovered and moved back to Asper. There are currently 5 residents in the red zone.

Next testing date:

All routine testing takes place at the Village Center chapel door, 7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm.

• Monday, 1/31: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing, all team members who have met exposure criteria in or outside of Messiah Lifeways, and any Nursing or EL team members who have been notified of the need to participate in retesting by their supervisors. 

Updated: Tuesday, January 25, 2022 @ 4:15 pm

Test results since our last update:

• 2 Enhanced Living residents from Nittany tested positive since yesterday’s update. Both have been transferred to the Cumberland red zone. A retesting plan is in place for Nittany – residents and/or family members of residents who’ve been exposed have been notified.
• 1 Nursing team member tested positive with no known exposures on campus.
• All Laurel Upper residents who were tested today were negative

Next testing date:

All routine testing takes place at the Village Center chapel door, 7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm.

• Thursday, 1/27: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing, all team members who have met exposure criteria in or outside of Messiah Lifeways, and any Nursing or EL team members who have been notified of the need to participate in retesting by their supervisors. 

Covid Vaccine Boosters: 

REMINDER: Based on updated quarantine/exposure guidance from the other week, team members who are eligible for a booster, but have not yet received one need to quarantine for 7 days if exposed. Fully vaccinated + boosted team members do not need to quarantine unless they develop symptoms.

Booster eligibility: It’s been 5 or more months since your second shot (Pfizer or Moderna) or 2 months since Johnson & Johnson, you have not received monoclonal antibodies in the past 90 days, and it has been at least 14 days since a positive COVID-19 test.

On Thursday, January, 27 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, a vaccine clinic will be held on campus in the Chapel for any team members who would like to receive a booster/3rd dose or their second dose. The vaccines will be administered by Care Options Rx.

Test results since our last update:

RESIDENTS:

• All Nursing residents who were tested today were negative. 
• 1 Enhanced Living resident recently recovered and moved out of the red zone!
• There are currently a total of 3 residents in the red zone.
• 1 Residential Living resident who lives in a cottage tested positive – no exposures outside household.

TEAM MEMBERS:

8 team members tested positive since our last update.

• 3 from Nursing: 
  • 1 who did not work in exposure window
  • 1 who worked in Donegal and Asper – any residents/team members who met exposure criteria is being notified and added to the retesting plan.
  • 1 who worked in Donegal, Engle, and Greenwood – any residents who met exposure criteria have been notified. 
• 1 support services team member who worked in Donegal, Wagner, Greenwood, Nittany and Laurel Main – any residents who met exposure criteria are being notified.
• 1 EL team member who worked in Nittany – no known exposures on campus
• 1 EL team member who worked in Nittany – any residents who met exposure criteria have been notified.
• 1 support services who worked in Hopewell no known exposures on campus
• 1 support services team member with no known exposures on campus 

Upcoming testing dates:

All routine testing takes place at the Village Center chapel door, 7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm.

• Thursday, 1/27: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing, all team members who have met exposure criteria in or outside of Messiah Lifeways, any EL team members who need to participate in retesting have been notified by their supervisors – other required groups will be listed in tomorrow’s update.
• Monday, 1/31: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing and all team members who have met exposure criteria in or outside of Messiah Lifeways, and other groups in retesting plan.

Covid Vaccine Clinic: 

On Thursday, January, 27 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, a vaccine clinic will be held on campus in the Chapel for any team members who would like to receive a booster/3rd dose or their second dose. The vaccines will be administered by Care Options Rx.

Sign up here: https://covid-19schedulinglink.as.me/schedule.php?calendarID=5358412

Booster eligibility: It’s been 5 or more months since your second shot (Pfizer or Moderna) or 2 months since Johson & Johnson, you have not received monoclonal antibodies in the past 90 days, and it has been at least 14 days since a positive COVID-19 test.

Test results since our last update:

RESIDENTS:

All Enhanced Living and Nursing residents who were tested were negative. 

TEAM MEMBERS:

4 team members tested positive since our last update.

• 2 support services team members who did not work in the exposure window 
• 1 Nursing team member who last worked in Donegal: no exposures
• 1 support services team member: any team members who met exposure criteria have been notified

Upcoming testing dates:

All routine testing takes place at the Village Center chapel door, 7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm.

• Monday, 1/24: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing, all team members who have met exposure criteria in or outside of Messiah Lifeways, and all team members regardless of vaccination status from AdvantageCare Rehab, Donegal, Asper, Engle, Laurel Upper, and Adult Day due to targeted exposure retesting. (Any EL team members who need to participate in retesting have been notified by their supervisors)
• Friday, 1/28: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing and all team members who have met exposure criteria in or outside of Messiah Lifeways.

*Note: if you are symptomatic when you come for testing, make sure to stay in your car, pull up outside the chapel entrance, and bring your insurance cards.

Other:

Covid Vaccine Clinic: On Thursday, January, 27 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, a vaccine clinic will be held on campus in the Chapel for any team members who would like to receive a booster/3rd dose or their second dose. The vaccines will be administered by Care Options Rx.

Sign up here: https://covid-19schedulinglink.as.me/schedule.php?calendarID=5358412

Booster eligibility: It’s been 5 or more months since your second shot (Pfizer or Moderna) or 2 months since Johnson & Johnson, you have not received monoclonal antibodies in the past 90 days, and it has been at least 14 days since a positive COVID-19 test.

Updated: Wednesday, January 19, 2022 @ 4:40 pm

Test results since last update:

RESIDENTS:

• All Laurel Upper residents who were tested today were negative
• All Asper residents who were tested today were negative 

TEAM MEMBERS:

8 team members tested positive since our last update:

• 1 support services who works in EL: no exposures 
• 2 support services who works in main kitchen: no exposures 
• 1 support services who works in RL: any residents/clients who met exposure criteria have been notified.
• 1 direct care Nursing who worked in Hampden, Engle, Donegal: any residents who met exposure criteria have been notified.
• 2 support services who work in Donegal: any residents who met exposure criteria have been notified.
• 1 support services in Village Center: any team members who met exposure criteria have been notified.

Upcoming testing dates:

All routine testing takes place at the Village Center chapel door, 7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm.

• Friday, 1/21: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing, and all team members regardless of vaccination status from Hopewell, Nittany, Adult Day, and Advantage Care Rehab (ACR) due to targeted exposure retesting.  (Any EL team members who need to participate in retesting have been notified by their supervisors)
• Monday, 1/24: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing, and all team members regardless of vaccination status from Donegal, Asper, Engle, Laurel Upper, and Adult Day due to targeted exposure retesting. (Any EL team members who need to participate in retesting have been notified by their supervisors)

*Note: if you are symptomatic when you come for testing, make sure to stay in your car, pull up outside the chapel entrance, and bring your insurance cards.

Thankfully, two Nursing residents who were in the red zone are now considered recovered and have moved back to their neighborhoods.

Test results since our last update:

RESIDENTS:

• 1 resident from Laurel Upper (Enhanced Living) tested positive and has moved to the Cumberland red zone. 
• 1 resident from Asper (Nursing) tested positive and has moved to the Cumberland red zone.
  • There are a total of 4 residents in the red zone (1 from Nursing and 3 from EL)
• 1 Residential Living resident who lives in a cottage tested positive, with no known exposures.
• All Hopewell residents who were tested today were negative
• All Nursing resident who were tested today from Asper, Greenwood, Engle, and Donegal) were negative 

TEAM MEMBERS:

• 1 At Home team member who worked in Laurel Main and for community clients. Anyone who met exposure criteria has been notified.
• 2 Nursing team members with no resident exposures – any team members who met exposure criteria have been notified.

Retesting Strategy Update:

In order to be good stewards of limited testing supplies and in consultation with infection preventionists, we are updating our exposure retesting strategy to be more targeted. We will schedule two rounds of re-testing (rather than 4) at approximately 2 days post-exposure and then again at approximately 5-10 days past exposure for the time being. 

Upcoming testing dates:

Due to the winter weather on Sunday night, routine testing for this week only has been moved to Tuesday and Friday.

All routine testing takes place at the Village Center chapel door, 7:00 am – 8:30 am & 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm.

• Tuesday, 1/18: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing, and all team members regardless of vaccination status from Wagner/Hampden, Engle, Donegal, Asper, all Enhanced Living neighborhoods, Adult Day, and Advantage Care Rehab (ACR) due to targeted exposure retesting.

• Friday, 1/21: All unvaccinated team members for routine testing, and all team members regardless of vaccination status from Wagner/Hampden, all Enhanced Living neighborhoods, Adult Day, and Advantage Care Rehab (ACR) due to targeted exposure retesting.

*Note: if you are symptomatic when you come for testing, make sure to stay in your car, pull up outside the chapel entrance, and bring your insurance cards.

Adult Day:

Due to several positive clients in Adult Day, we’ve decided to close for the rest of the week to evaluate elevated infection control protocol.