We want to provide an update on an exposure to COVID-19 within our Friendship Village of South Hills community. We learned on Wednesday, May 13th, that one of our team members tested positive for the virus. We now have two team member active cases of the virus and both are self-isolating at home.
We are pleased to report that we have no resident active cases of the virus at this time.
Independent Living Residents
- New Cases: 1
- Total Active Cases: 1
Health Center Residents
- New Cases: 2
- Total Active Cases: 2 (1 in the hospital)
Assisted Living Residents
- New Cases: 0
- Total Active Cases: 0
Team Members
- New Cases: 3
- Total Active Cases: 6 (at home)
Friendship Village of South Hills has activated an emergency response team, and we are working with health and infectious disease experts to take all appropriate steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect our residents and team members. We continue to follow all CDC recommendations related to the control and prevention of the spread of COVID-19.
Additionally:
- Our Health Center team continues to consult with Lifespace Communities Chief Clinical and Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Hamm; Friendship Village Medical Director Dr. Mally; and the Allegheny County Epidemiologist for guidance.
- Lifespace Communities Director of Health Services Education and Regional Director of Health Services will be at the community this week to help support our health center clinical team.
- Our health center nurses are administering monoclonal antibody therapy to impacted residents if appropriate.
- Most of our confirmed positive residents continue to be asymptomatic or are only exhibiting mild symptoms.
- This current outbreak in our health center could take up to 30 days to clear.
- 98% of our residents and team members are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. As per federal guidelines, we must accommodate for medical and religious exemptions.
Visitation to the Health Center will be suspended until we are able to clear this current outbreak. Visitation in Assisted Living and Memory Care may occur sooner if we have no more new cases to report over this next week.
If you are identified as having had prolonged contact with any individuals who test positive for COVID-19, you have already been contacted by our management team and instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days, per the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Allegheny County Health Department, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pittsburgh Field Office.
COVID-19 Delta Variant Facts
Most of the current positive virus cases are in individuals who have been fully vaccinated. It is important to remember the following:
- The Delta variant of COVID-19 is very highly transmissible.
- Fully vaccinated people can still get the virus AND they can spread it to other people, including those who are fully vaccinated.
- Fully vaccinated people who are infected with the virus can be hospitalized, especially those with weakened immune symptoms or other medical conditions that compromise their systems.
We continue with our commitment to protect the health and safety of our residents and team members, and our team continues to be proactive in mitigating the risk of further exposure to the virus within our community.
Thank you.
Bryan Welty
Executive Director