Burlington: New nursing home resident under quarantine tests positive

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A new resident under quarantine at a Burlington nursing home has tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said Tuesday that the person was under a quarantine for new admissions at Elderwood.

“We should actually record this positive case as a success story,” Levine said. “And the reasons I say that is because this case involved an individual who was actually under quarantine already at the facility. ”

The senior care facility said family members of residents have been notified and limited outdoor visitation has been suspended for 28 days.

“Elderwood has implemented established isolation and infection control protocols as well as those protocols consistent with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Vermont State Department of Health for persons suspected of having the virus. This includes comprehensive COVID-19 testing of all residents and staff,” it said in a statement.

The protocols call for new residents to be isolated, tested periodically and monitored for 14 days following admission and staff caring them are required to wear full personal protective equipment, it said.

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