Forty-five residents and twenty-one staff tested positive for COVID-19 at a memory care facility in Billings. Coronavirus

BILLINGS, Mon. (Updated)-By RiverStone Health, as of 3:00 pm Wednesday, July 8, eight people associated with Canyon Creek memory care tested positive for COVID-19. 8 people include 6 staff and 2 inhabitants. New cases will be reflected on the COVID-19 case map in Montana on Thursday, July 9th. These newly reported positives bring the total number of infected people to 66-21 employees and 45 inhabitants.

RiverStone Health says Canyon Creek Memory Care continues to help manage the situation.

BILLINGS, Mon. – The Canyon Creek Memory Care Community at Billings has announced a wide range of cases of coronavirus at the facility.

According to a statement released Tuesday, the facility conducted a COVID-19 test on Friday 3 July for all residents and staff.

Tested by 55 and 56 staff members of Canyon Creek. 43 residents and 15 staff tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the facility, 7 residents and 26 staff tested negative.

As of Tuesday, July 7, the facility is waiting for the results of 9 residents and 15 staff.

Of the 43 residents who test positive, two are hospitalized and the remaining 41 remain at Canyon Creek.

The community is under quarantine and residents and their families are informed of the situation.

Canyon Creek’s parent company, Koelsch Communities, has scrutinized and monitored all virus guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments since the outbreak of COVID-19 to ensure that the virus was not transmitted. It says it is preventing it.

The Kelsch community also said that in mid-February this year a protocol was introduced at Canyon Creek to prevent exposure to COVID-19.

These preventive procedures are included. Limit visits to essential persons or end-of-life situations, temperature, travel history, or known exposure of all individuals upon admission to the community (including staff), and supply inventory of both food and PPE Increase screening.

The Kelsh community is working with RiverStone Health to issue the following statement on Tuesday: President/CEO of RiverStone Health. “Canyon Creek is just one of the seven elderly homes that have recently reported illness to residents and employees.”

Felton goes on to say: “Seniors in collective living environments are particularly vulnerable to the tragic consequences of being infected with COVID-19. In this particular example, personal hygiene guidance is followed to communicate with people with impaired cognitive function. We are particularly concerned because it is difficult and requires predictable routines.”

The Kelsh community says that protecting the well-being of its residents and staff is our top priority.

Canyon Creek is licensed by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services as a living support facility. The state needs assisted living facilities to isolate residents who test positive and, if negative, those who are exposed to the virus.

The facility works with River Stone Health to set separate living conditions for residents who respond positively and those who respond negatively. Staff who care for those residents are also isolated, thereby reducing the potential for cross contamination.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will issue COVID-19 test guidance in response to outbreaks in older people’s living settings and RiverStone Health will work with Canyon Creek to help follow the guidance.

RiverStone Health will investigate each case associated with this facility and ensure adequate supply of masks, gowns, gloves and other personal protective equipment and that all PPE are adequate to prevent further spread of the virus. Has been used for.

“In the early stages of the investigation, the outbreak of these people was limited, so the outbreak was likely to have started from staff or visitors infected with COVID-19,” Felton said. “This is a heartbreaking example of what happens if we don’t comply with 3W. Wash your hands, look at the distance and wear a mask.”

Most people, with mild symptoms and recovery, can become infected with COVID-19 at any age and become severe. According to the CDC, 8 in 10 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States occur among people age 65 and older.

Surveillance tests over the past few weeks have found few positive cases of residents and staff in Yellowstone County supporting living facilities and nursing homes.

Last week, as the number of cases of COVID-19 surged in Yellowstone County, Felton issued a health official order banning most visits to elderly care and living facilities for the elderly in Yellowstone County. Felton issued its order on Friday after learning that seven senior care facilities reported infecting residents or staff.