Dear Residents, Families and Employees:

I want to open by sharing with you that we are now 30 days with no new resident cases of COVID-19 positive.  We also have no new employee cases of COVID-19 positive.  We remain very cautious and diligent with the screening, use of protective equipment, cleaning and sanitizing. 

Last week I spoke about the mandated testing of all staff and residents.  We are in the process of completing the administrative portion of testing, currently registering all of our residents in the Health Center and Personal Care, as well as employees into the lab’s system.  We anticipate testing will begin next week.  Once we get results we will make the resident and their responsible person aware of the test results, as well as the staff will be advised of their personal test results.  Any positive test results will be reported to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Health. 

I wanted to reiterate that no visitors are permitted at this time, anywhere in the community.  The Health Center and Personal Care will remain in an “isolation” state for a minimum of 28 days after Philadelphia County goes to the green phase.  We will be given our orders from DOH and DHS as to when visitors may return.  As heartbreaking as it can be, until we are advised that visitors may return we cannot make any exceptions to this mandate. 

This section is particularly addressed to the independent residents in the community – you must wear a face mask or some face covering that will cover the nose and mouth area at all times in public, and practice social distancing of six feet (6’) distance from each other.  ALL residents must return to the community through the main entrance and be screened.  There are no exceptions to this rule.  It is known that some have been propping the door open at the P Building entrance, and we are aware of the “guilty” parties.  You are not only putting the community at risk for the spread of COVID-19 by not cooperating with the screening process, but you are risking the safety of your neighbors with this breach of security, and the risk of someone or “critters” getting in.  This behavior and lack of cooperation is not acceptable under any circumstance.  I am very thankful to the majority of you who are fully cooperative and understanding of this situation.  We all recognize the necessary inconvenience.  As trite as it may sound, we truly are in this together!

I anticipate the full cooperation of all of the independent residents.  Please show some consideration and respect for your neighbors by cooperating with this inconvenience. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions or concerns.