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Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS) is continuing to work with long-term care facility Elizabeth City Health and Rehabilitation (ECHR) on a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility. ARHS and ECHR staff provided a mass screening at the facility and collected over 275 COVID-19 samples from all staff and residents.

As of Friday, May 8, 46 lab-confirmed positive cases have been identified with the majority of lab results being received. Positive cases were confirmed in 33 residents and 13 staff members. “Long-term care facilities are at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19,” stated ARHS.

ARHS said in a press release they are providing guidance and resources to ECHR to help control the outbreak. ECHR is taking enhanced isolation and quarantine measures and is continuing to monitor the health status of residents and staff.

An outbreak is defined as two or more cases in a facility. When an outbreak is identified, additional contact tracing and testing is required in order to manage exposures and ensure proper steps are taken to protect both staff and residents.

As the community moves into the modified Stay at Home order and transition to Phase 1 of slowly easing certain COVID-19 restrictions, ARHS encouraged individuals to practice the three Ws: wear a cloth face covering, wait 6 feet apart and wash your hands. The strategies aim to minimize the risk of transmission among families, friends and neighbors.

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