WRMC Community Members and Families,

As you are aware from our last communication we are now testing all staff and vendors twice weekly. This is due to Medina County having a positivity rate of over 10%. On Monday 11/30, we tested 168 Staff and Vendors for COVID-19, all results came back negative.

Today we tested all residents in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living using Rapid Response testing, all results came back negative. We also tested all staff and vendors using PCR testing and are awaiting those results.

Last week the positivity rate in Medina County increased from 10.8% to 12%. In contrast over the last two weeks Western Reserve’s positivity rate for staff and residents is .17%.

Medina County is now on the watch list to move to purple on the State of Ohio’s Public Health Advisory System, which updates weekly on Thursdays. A county goes purple based on hitting 6 out of the 7 indicators which take into account the impact of COVID-19 on the community as a whole. Those indicators are new cases per capita, increased new cases, non-congregate care setting case increase, physician office visits, increased ER visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions. As of last week Medina County is over the threshold in all 7 categories.

We anticipate that Medina County will go purple when the Public Health Advisory System is updated tomorrow afternoon. Going Purple takes us to a Level 4 Public Health Emergency, which indicates there is severe exposure and spread taking place. The recommendation at this level is that persons should only leave their home for supplies and services.

If/When Medina County goes to purple; Independent Living visitation will be suspended immediately. Only persons on the approved list that are providing necessary services to our residents will be permitted to enter the facility. If you were on the list previously you have been listed again.

If you need family members added to the approved visitor list please contact me directly. Medical personnel and personal care givers from outside agencies are permitted, and do not need to be added to the list.

Groceries and other items can be dropped at the Gatehouse and will be delivered by our staff.

Due to our extremely low positivity rate among Western Reserve staff we will not be changing any current programming for Independent Living Residents.

Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing’s quarantine will remain in place until we have 14 consecutive days without staff or resident new positive cases.

As before, all Community Members are permitted to leave the campus at any time. We suggest being extremely cautious at this time when making the choice to leave WRMC for anything other than what is necessary.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Sincerely,

Jason French

President