The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced a new case of COVID-19 in Warren County on Monday and that new case was associated with a nursing home. Photo by Brian Ferry

With hundreds of tests completed at Warren County long-term-care facilities, exactly one positive case of COVID-19 has been reported.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced a new case of COVID-19 in Warren County on Monday and that new case was associated with a nursing home.

On Wednesday, Warren Manor issued a release indicating that the single positive result was from a patient at the Pleasant Township facility.

Warren Manor conducted state-mandated baseline testing on July 15 and 16. Results were returned on Monday, July 20.

“All employee results were negative and only one positive COVID-19 test result came back for a resident out of 108 tested,” according to a release from HCF Management Corporate Director of Business Development Katie Kent. “Luckily, this resident is stable and displayed mild symptoms.”

Warren Manor is part of HCF Management of Lima, Ohio.

After receiving the result, staff followed established procedures and took additional precautionary steps.

“Our care community acted quickly to place this positive resident into COVID-19 isolation protocols,” Kent said. “Out of further precaution, Warren Manor has re-tested the entire neighborhood this resident resides on. Results are still pending.”

“The health, safety, and well-being of our residents is our priority,” Warren Manor Administrator Susanna Hummel said. “Our goal is to prevent any further spread within our care community to our residents, staff, and partners. We have notified all residents, staff, and providers, and will continue to update all family members with our weekly calls. We have further reduced exposure within the building by isolating residents to their room, initiated isolation procedures for suspected COVID-19 residents, and are having sick staff stay home. We are working with our physicians to make sure we are treating each resident appropriately if they develop any respiratory signs or symptoms. We are also working with the local department of health.”

“At all HCF Care Communities the health and safety of our residents and staff is our top concern and priority,” Kent said. “Our staff has been educated on infection control policies and procedures, the emergency preparedness plan and the CDC’s recommended guidance to the healthcare industry. We want to assure those we serve and their loved ones, that our organization has well established infection control protocols, the proper personal protective equipment on hand, and we are experienced in dealing with communicable diseases, like the flu and pneumonia virus, that cause respiratory symptoms like this COVID-19.”

An initial round of testing of all employees and residents must be completed by Friday.

The Rouse conducted the mandated baseline testing this week.

“As of July 22nd, 2020 the Rouse has had zero confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in residents and staff,” Rouse Estate Marketing Director Kelsey Angove said. “The Rouse Home completed baseline testing of all residents and staff on Monday, July 20, and those test results are currently pending.”

Kinzua Healthcare and Rehabilitation conducted testing last week, reporting no immediate positive results.

The department reported the case and associated it with a long-term care facility, but did not specify which facility. Neither the Department of Health’s nor the Department of Human Services’ most current Long-Term Care Facilities Data spreadsheets – both of which show information for every nursing home and both of which were last updated Tuesday – indicates any positive cases in Warren County.