We thank you for your continued support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to provide high-quality care for your loved ones.
Testing News:
We are continuing to test our staff twice weekly as the positivity rate in Lackawanna County remains at red status.
Our resident units continue to test based on potential exposure. Our resident groups have continued to remain symptom free. Tests received during this past week have been negative for residents. Our second floor and part of our 4th floor are back in green-zone status. The designated yellow zone on 4th floor continues in yellow status as that is the location where our residents returning or admitted from the hospital stay during quarantine.
Our 3rd and 5th floors continue in yellow status.
Staff results pending at the time of our letter from last week came back with two additional positives. Staff testing conducted this week on Monday, January 11, 2021, were all negative!
The second round of staff testing this week was conducted on Thursday January 14, 2021. Results from yesterday’s staff testing will be back on the weekend. We are happy to see the positive results from our staff group trending down.
Our Facility’s Resident Impact (Since March 30, 2020, through January 14, 2021)
0 – Residents currently in our building with a confirmed active case of COVID 19
56 – CONFIRMED: Residents with laboratory positive COVID-19
0 – SUSPECTED: Residents with new suspected COVID-19
46 – Confirmed Staff Total: with a positive COVID -19
- Please note that test results are reported on our daily call in line at 570-207-6711.
Family members and all others impacted by the virus will be contacted directly and provided with results and updates. Due to the community positivity rate being at red status and the need to have fourteen full days without positives from staff or residents in our building, we will remain closed to in person visits with the exception of compassionate and end of life visits.
COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign at the Jewish Home of Eastern Pa
We are thankful to report that our first COVID 19 vaccine clinic was today! Consenting residents from 2nd and 4th floors along with more than half of our staff group signing up for vaccine participated. The remainder of our group who have signed up is scheduled to receive their first dose on next Friday January 22, 2021. Our sign up rate for the vaccine has been very high for our resident group. Our staff group is trending high with over two thirds having signed up. We will report the actual final vaccination for both groups upon completion of the two shot series and our full clinic.
The Jewish Home takes the responsibility of providing a safe environment for our residents and employees very seriously. We require a written declination from staff members who choose not to participate in the COVID 19 vaccine program. We will consider making reasonable accommodations for staff who request accommodations for their medical conditions and/or bona fide religious beliefs. For staff members who are choosing not to take the vaccine for other reasons than listed above, accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis following reviews of each case, which may include interactive discussions and additional education.
Please stay tuned to our website and social media pages for pictures from our clinics.
Voluntary Serology Study conducted by the PA Department of Health:
Information on this voluntary testing for antibodies was shared in the last two family letters. Copies are located on the COVID 19 section of our website. If you are not able to print a consent form or have any questions please reach out to Lee Rutkowski at lrutkowski@jhep.org or 570-344-6177 extension 1151, or me at mapplegate@jhep.org or extension 1101.
Consents for your family member to participate in this study must be signed and returned to Denise Skrzysowski at dskrzysowski@jhep.org no later than January 18, 2021.
Thank you for entrusting us to care for your loved ones. If you have any questions, we are always available for you.
Sincerely,
Mary Rose Applegate, MBA, RD, NHA
Administrator
