SANTA CRUZ — The skilled nursing facility Pacific Coast Manor in Capitola is reporting 33 resident cases and 26 staff cases of COVID-19, according to the most recent data from the California Department of Public Health.
According to the California Department of Public Health, Pacific Coast Manor — has 29 COVID-positive residents at this time. Through a dedicated COVID-19 update page on the facility’s website, Pacific Coast Manor confirmed the outbreak for the sake of the health and well-being of others.
“To add an additional level of protection we are committed to facility-wide testing on all residents and staff in collaboration with local public health departments,” administrators added in their posting. “In this new world of COVID-19, rest assured we are aggressively treating and responding to potential community exposures by conducting routine testing of all our residents and staff until such time as a vaccine becomes available or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instructs otherwise.”
State and local health departments are helping Pacific Coast Manor stabilize the outbreak through additional guidance. Going forward, the facility will be implementing additional precautions:
- Screening staff and medical personnel before entering the facility.
- Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) based on the staff’s respective tasks within the facility.
- Creating an observation unit where all new admissions are admitted to be quarantined, tested and closely monitored for any signs of COVID-19 prior to moving to a standard room.
- Designating separate wings of the center for residents who may test positive for COVID-19.
“We would also like to thank our local hospitals, managed care organizations, local police departments, fire departments, transportation companies and local businesses for the tremendous support we have been given as we navigate through this pandemic together,” operators wrote.
New cases cropping up
Four other skilled nursing facilities and one residential care facility are have reported cases in recent days, according to both the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Social Services.
The California Department of Public Health, which licenses skilled nursing facilities experiencing outbreaks already reported such as Santa Cruz Post Acute Center and Watsonville Post Acute Center, has publicized a report showing that four additional facilities are reporting at least one COVID-19 case — the definition of an “outbreak” at facilities with staff that care for vulnerable populations such as these.
Hearts & Hands Post Acute and Rehab Center in Santa Cruz and Valley Convalescent Hospital in Watsonville showed active cases on Monday, while Watsonville Nursing Center and Driftwood Healthcare Center in Santa Cruz have no active cases but did have a record for cumulative cases of fewer than 11. Both the California Department of Public Health and California Department of Social Services use case tracking models to report COVID-19 cases that masks values of less than 11 in accordance with “de-identification guidelines.” True values of zero remain listed at zero.
Driftwood Healthcare Center administrator Lance Bailey said Wednesday afternoon that the facility’s outbreak was caused by a family member visiting a resident without clearance when the state prohibited the practice in July. From there, it spread to the senior’s roommate, and then their certified nursing assistants and two more residents. In total, four residents and six staff members became infected with COVID-19; one resident was hospitalized. All ill parties recovered and staff started to take the situation a little bit more seriously thereafter, Bailey said.
“I don’t think COVID is something to be scared of in the general public, it’s just common sense,” Bailey said. “Do what you’re asked to do when you’re out in public … and with nursing homes, just stay away. Families just need to be patient and wait until at least a vaccine to where we can protect our residents. We understand they miss their family members and our heart aches for them. But at the same time, we feel a great responsibility to protect all residents.”
If one person disobeys the rules, Bailey said, there’s a potential that the situation is ruined for everyone.
Hearts & Hands Post Acute Care and Rehab Center have fewer than 11 active cases of COVID-19 among residents, and less than 11 total resident cases have been reported. Less than 11 staff members have tested positive for the virus since the Hearts & Hands outbreak began.
California Department of Public Health shows Valley Convalescent Hospital had less than 11 COVID-positive residents as of Monday and a cumulative less than 11 cases recorded within the resident population overall. Fewer than 11 staff members have contracted the virus as a result of the outbreak.
The California Department of Social Services, the agency that licenses residential care facilities for the elderly and adult residential facilities like Maple House II in Live Oak — the county’s second-reported outbreak between skilled and residential care facilities — reported through its most recent update that there is one addition to the COVID-19 residential care facility outbreak list in Santa Cruz County: Westwind Memory Care in Santa Cruz. According to California Department of Social Services data, less than 11 staff members and less than 11 residents have contracted COVID-19 in recent days.
None of the facilities reported this week have associated deaths, according to the data from the two agencies.
No representatives of the county or its Health Services Agency, the entity that visited skilled nursing and residential care facilities early on in the pandemic to create preparation plans, could be reached as the county was closed Wednesday. Automatic email responses cited existing furloughs and the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Sentinel has contacted the facilities for information.
By the numbers
Total known cases: 4,198
Active known cases: 957
Recovered known cases: 3,213
Related deaths: 28
Cases requiring hospitalization: 217
Total negative tests conducted: 72,096
Check back for updates.
