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Additional Berks Heim Staff Test Positive for COVID-19

from County of Berks / COVID-19 Leadership Team

Apr 20, 2020
Berks Heim Nursing Home

Reading, PA — The Berks County Commissioners have announced that three additional Berks Heim staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.  This is in addition to two that were previously reported. One of the two who had previously tested positive has been able to return to work.

Key measures were in place prior to the positive test.

As previously reported Berks Heim stopped taking visitors March 11, 2020. The facility instituted screening all employees and other approved individuals entering the building. These precautions include monitoring of temperatures, symptoms, and following recommended guidelines to restrict access as necessary based on CDC (Centers for Disease Control), CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health standards.  All needed services continue to be provided to the residents.  We continue to admit new residents to the facility only after an extensive review and approval process. New residents are admitted to a specific area to be quarantined for 14 days. We continue to follow Infection Control guidelines to maintain a safe and clean environment for the residents and staff of Berks Heim.   We also have precautions in place for food preparation, delivery and service for the residents.

Actions taken to address testing positive for COVID-19

The staff members who tested positive for COVID-19 were tested between April 16th and April 18th with results received on April 20th, which confirmed positive COVID-19 results.

Additionally, employees and union leadership have been notified. Berks County and Berks Heim Management are committed to protecting the health of both our residents and our employees especially during this unprecedented health crisis. We are acting in accordance with the latest DOH guidelines, in which the staff will continue to work and self-monitor if they are asymptomatic. If they become symptomatic, they would then self-isolate. This was part of the new PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  2020 – PAHAN – 498 – 4-19-ALT                       ALERT: Interim Guidelines for Exposed Life-Sustaining Business Workers.

Berks Heim will continue to provide the needed care to our residents per our Infection Control program and the guidance that has been provided daily by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), the Berks County Department of Emergency Services and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

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