Coronavirus spreads to 25 residents and staff at care facility in Blanding
The coronavirus pandemic has once again hit close to home in San Juan County with an outbreak among the highly vulnerable residents of the Four Corners Regional Care Center in Blanding.
As of July 8, a total of 21 residents and four staff members have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The virus has been spreading rapidly through the facility, with the number of positive tests among residents increasing from five to 21 in just the past day.
On June 28, a staff member at the facility tested positive. Despite aggressive efforts to stop the spread of the virus, it has spread to 25 people in the past week.
All residents and staff have been tested for COVID-19 and have received the results.
A secure wing of the facility has been designated to care for and treat residents who have tested positive. It is separate from the rest of the building and residents.
In addition, the Care Center reports that staff and essential medical personnel are fully outfitted with personal protective equipment (PPE) as needed.
The Care Center reports that “most residents who have tested positive have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.”
The four staff members who work at the facility and who have tested positive are quarantining in their own homes.
The Care Center continues to work closely with the Utah Department of Health and the Bureau of Epidemiology and are following all their recommended protocols regarding the treatment, care, and safety of all residents and staff.
The Care Center reports that they have been “verbally contacting all residents, resident families, POAs, and staff” to inform them of the positive tests.
The facility has been on restricted access since March 13, 2020 and continues to prohibit visitors. Only essential staff and medical personnel who pass a medical screening are allowed in the facility. No visitors have entered the facility since that date.
San Juan County has had 425 coronavirus cases, resulting in 60 hospitalizations and ten deaths. The case rate in San Juan County is easily the highest in the State of Utah and among the highest counties in the United States.
The northern portion of the county is in a yellow advisory status, with the Navajo Nation portion of the county continues in a red status.