Outbreak of COVID-19 at Clay County nursing home facility

Pleasant Valley Manor Care Center in Pleasant Valley, Mo. has reported an outbreak of COVID-19 within the facility that has resulted in the death of at least one resident.

This outbreak stands as the first long-term care facility with COVID-19 in Clay County, according to an article written by The Kansas City Star.

“At this point, it is too early in the process to know exactly how the outbreak started,” said Gary Zaborac, Clay County Public Health Center Executive Director. “We are in the beginning stages of the investigation.”

There are around 49 known cases within the facility between residents and staff members, said care center Administrator LaDonna Vaughan in an interview with the Courier-Tribune Monday. Vaughan said she was first alerted to a staff member testing positive for COVID-19 on May 28.

All employees who tested positive are not working and are currently isolating in their own homes, Vaughan said, stating that they will not return to work until each has had two negative tests. Residents who have COVID-19 have been moved within the facility and separated from those who have not been infected. Weekly tests are also being given to residents.

The facility has since posted a statement on their website reading, “We are making every effort to minimize the exposure of COVID-19 to our residents and staff. Our utmost concern is for the health and well-being of each of our residents and to ensure our staff is healthy and able to continue to care for residents.”

With certain exceptions for some residents, the statement addresses what visitors and the public can expect as the outbreak continues to be handled saying, “We are closely monitoring the situation daily and as soon as we feel the safety of our residents will not be compromised with visitors, we will lift the restrictions.”