Positive cases linked to local nursing home

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At least one of the 20 new cases reported in the past week has been traced to a nursing home in Perryville, the first at a long-term care facility in the county. According to Perry County Health Department director Sylvia Forester, the health department was notified of a positive test result associated with The Estates of Perryville, located at 430 N. West St., over the weekend. Since that time, additional positive cases have been identified at the facility. “The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services was notified within 24 hours of this positive,” said Forester of the initial case, adding that additional positives were identified on Wednesday. Forester declined to comment on whether the individual who initially tested positive was a resident or an employee. The nursing home was contacted by the Republic-Monitor on Tuesday, but has yet to respond to submitted questions or issue a statement regarding the matter. On Wednesday afternoon, Forester was unable to provide details on the additional cases beyond confirming that the health department had been notified. “We have been notified that the facility plans to follow the recommendations set forth by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, including testing of all residents and employees, and subsequent retesting three to four days later of all patients and employees that receive negative results,” Forester said. “The testing, and subsequent retesting, will be conducted out of an abundance of caution to determine additional residents or employees who may be asymptomatic or in the initial stages of infection.” Forester added that the health department remains in communication with the facility and the state Department of Health and Senior Services, and will conduct contact investigations and make further recommendations and issue guidance based on the results of the testing. Long-term care and assisted living facilities across the nation have been on high alert since the pandemic started, restricting visitors and requiring more stringent health protocols to protect residents and staff in the hope of preventing an outbreak among highly susceptible individuals in a closed environment.