Turlock nursing home announces 18th death to coronavirus. Case total levels off
An 18th resident of Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has died of the coronavirus, the center announced Wednesday.
Details were not available on the person who died in an online update from the East Tuolumne Road center. Reported deaths throughout Stanislaus County remained at 26, so it’s possible the resident was from elsewhere.
The death was announced on the same day that the county got word from the state that dine-in restaurants and in-store retail could resume. Patrons and employees still need to follow the advice for controlling COVID-19. This includes staying at least 6 feet from non-household members and washing hands and often-touched surfaces well.
‘Insidious virus’
The Turlock center said 100 residents and 52 employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, a leveling off from last week. It also noted over the weekend that 25 residents have recovered – four of them discharged – and that 25 staff members have recovered and returned to work.
“On behalf of the entire team at Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we join in mourning with families who have lost their loved ones to this insidious virus,” the latest update said. “Sadly, 18 residents who previously tested positive for COVID-19 have passed away.”
The center is owned by Covenant Care, based in Aliso Viejo, Orange County. The update said it continues to have separate wings for positive and negative residents. It screens employees at the start of each shift and provides masks, gloves and other protective gear.
Congressman’s reaction
The deaths prompted Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, to propose a bill that would mandate more testing in assisted-living facilities whether or not a resident has symptoms of COVID-19.
Countywide as of Wednesday, 598 people have tested positive for the virus and 9,485 were negative, according to the Health Services Agency. All of the deaths were people 50 or older, and the vast majority were over 65.
