GREELEY, Colo. – At least 14 residents at the Centennial Healthcare Center in Greeley who tested positive for COVID-19 have died, and 15 other residents have tested positive for the virus, a spokesperson for the facility said Thursday.
In addition to the 14 people confirmed to have the virus who passed away, five other people died and were either not tested for the virus after their death or still have postmortem results pending, said the spokesperson, Annaliese Impink.
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She said that 14 of those 15 residents who currently have COVID-19 are isolated inside the center and the other person was hospitalized for treatment.
In a statement, the facility said it was taking extra precautions and working to adhere to CDC guidelines for long-term care and nursing facilities, and that staff were being provided “appropriate PPE.”
“We are also in regular contact with our suppliers and vendors, as well as our pharmacy providers to ensure the center has access to the equipment, supplies and medications necessary to maintain care for our residents and patients,” the facility’s statement read.
It said once a suspected COVID-19 case is deemed positive, staff of the facility and family of the resident are informed. The facility said it was screening staff members for respiratory illnesses and fevers, along with outside health care professionals who enter.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updated information and education to the Center, staff, patients, residents and families, as updates become available. We appreciate the continued support of the long-term care community, and the agencies and associations that support us in our efforts,” the facility said.
The novel coronavirus has hit long-term care facilities and the state’s eldest population the hardest. As of Thursday afternoon, there were outbreaks at 54 residential and non-hospital health care facilities, and 122 of the 226 recorded deaths in the state were of people aged 80 or older.
The Tri-County Health Department said Thursday that there were four confirmed deaths at the Libby Bortz Assisted Living center in Littleton and one presumptive case.
The state has not been providing details of which facilities have outbreaks or where they are all located. Weld County had 36 reported deaths as of Thursday afternoon, meaning at least one-third of the deaths there happened at the Centennial Healthcare Center.
