COVID-19 deaths, outbreaks reported at care centers in Modesto
Some additional long-term care facilities have struggled with coronavirus outbreaks during the surge of illness in Stanislaus County.
At two care facilities in Modesto and one in Turlock, more than 160 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and some patients have died. The three outbreaks are in addition to cases that generated headlines previously at Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and the Vintage Faire nursing home and El Rio Memory Care in Modesto.
According to data reported to the state, 14 residents recently tested positive at Windsor Post-Acutre Healthcare Center on Evergreen Avenue in Modesto and several patients have died. Because of privacy issues, the state has only reported the number of deaths at Windsor is between one and 10.
A total of 89 residents at Windsor have tested positive since the virus surfaced in the 175-bed facility. Many of those residents have recovered. More than 30 health care workers have tested positive, according to the state data.
Another Modesto facility, Hy-Lond Health Care Center on Coffee Road, began notifying family members in late June about people testing positive. In an update Saturday, the facility’s owner said 36 residents have tested positive, including 11 who were transferred to the hospital for treatment.
Twenty-one of the patients are being cared for in a separate COVID unit at Hy-Lond; two are at other skilled nursing facilities and two have recovered, the update said.
Two dozen staff members at Hy-Lond have tested positive and won’t return to work until they are medically cleared, the parent company said.
Residents and staff are tested on a weekly basis.
In Turlock, Main West Postacute Care has 23 residents with coronavirus infection. From one to 10 patients have died, according to the state. A total of 41 residents and some health care workers have tested positive at the 99-bed facility on West Main Street.
The Modesto Bee wasn’t able to reach the facility manager at Main West. The corporate owners of Windsor did not return calls seeking comment.
A statement from Hy-Lond’s owner in Salt Lake City said visitation is strictly limited to end-of-life visits and health care professionals. The facility is following safety measures such as temperature checks for residents and staff, symptom monitoring and canceled outings and activities, the statement says.
An outline for $4.6 million in state assistance for Stanislaus County does not include any specific help for nursing homes. The grant money — part of $52 million targeted for hard hit counties in the Central Valley — is mainly for enhanced lab services and disease surveillance and still requires legislative approval.
Royjindar Singh, a spokesman for the county’s emergency operations center, said officials from multiple state agencies will be here Wednesday and Thursday to talk about the county’s response to the pandemic.
“We will know more after the meetings what services they could be providing,” Singh said. “When there is an outbreak at a (skilled nursing) facility, there is a process where staff and residents are tested. That process is being followed.”
The county has seen its share of nursing home tragedies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Infections spread through Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in April, ultimately resulting in 101 residents testing positive and 21 deaths. According to the facility’s most recent update, the majority of the residents and 60 employees who tested positive have recovered.
COVID infections led to five deaths at Vintage Faire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Modesto and also claimed the lives of five residents at El Rio Memory Care. According to the latest updates, five of the 19 residents who tested positive at Vintage Faire have recovered and most of the 28 infected employees are now well.
Koelsch Communities, which reported 18 residents and 10 staff members infected in June, reported no additional positive cases at El Rio in a July 20 update.
This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 5:19 PM.
