Modesto Gospel Mission reports coronavirus cases now at 22 among homeless men and staff
The Modesto Gospel Mission’s outbreak of COVID-19 has reached 22 cases among the homeless men it serves and male staff members who work with them, according to the mission’s executive director.
The mission reported last week nine cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and provided an update Friday on Facebook stating the number had reached 22.
This may be the first outbreak among homeless people in Stanislaus County, according to Raj Singh, a sheriff’s deputy and spokesman with the county’s Office of Emergency Services.
Gospel Mission Executive Director Jason Conway said in an interview that 18 homeless men and four male staff members have tested positive. He said the male staff members are self-quarantining at home while 12 homeless men are self-quarantining in a separate building on the mission’s campus, and six are in motel rooms provided by Stanislaus County.
The mission’s Facebook update said no one has been hospitalized, and the symptoms range from none to mild and moderate. These are the mission’s first COVID-19 cases.
The county coordinated the testing of about 130 homeless men and male staff members June 23 after some homeless men were confirmed to have COVID-19. The 22 cases are based on those test results as well as the homeless men who developed COVID-19 before the testing.
Conway said homeless men, women and children as well as male and female staff members were tested Tuesday. He said the mission is waiting for the test results and will continue the weekly tests until there are two consecutive tests without cases.
The homeless women and women with children initially were not tested because they are in their own building, while the homeless men are in another. Male staff work only with the men, and female staff work only with the women and children. Conway said the women and children and female staff were tested this week out of an abundance of caution.
Conway said while there are no guarantees, he believes the mission has seen the worst of COVID-19. He said all of the mission’s homeless men, women and children are self-quarantining. He said the mission is not taking new guests until it is safe.
‘Loving on those who are self-quarantining’
All of the homeless guests are wearing masks, and Conway said the mission continues to follow all of the other precautions from county public health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Conway has said the mission is providing housing for about 160 homeless people through its male and female shelters and its 18-month residential programs. He said the mission is focused on helping all of its homeless clients get through being in isolation.
“The bulk of our operation is loving on those who are self-quarantining,” he said.
Conway said those who want to help can do so by praying for the mission and its homeless clients, by providing the mission with financial support, and making the self-quarantining a little easier by donating coffee and snacks for the homeless as well as writing them letters of encouragement.
The Modesto Gospel Mission is located at 1400 Yosemite Blvd., Modesto, 95354 and may be reached by calling 209-529-8259.
This story was originally published July 3, 2020 at 1:48 PM.
