We want to provide an update on an exposure to COVID-19 within our Friendship Village of South Hills community. We learned on Thursday, August 12 that an Assisted Living resident tested positive through a rapid test. On the same day, a team member in Independent Living also tested positive through a rapid test. While we wait for confirmation through a PCR test, we have initiated outbreak testing for all Assisted Living and Memory Care residents and team members. All non-essential visitation has been suspended until we receive results of outbreak testing.

Due to the increasing positivity rates within Allegheny County and out of an abundance of caution, Friendship Village of South Hills is reinstituting a requirement for Independent Living residents, Team Members and Visitors are to begin wearing masks in all common spaces within our community effective immediately.

Currently, we only have one resident and active team member cases of the virus. The team member is self-isolating at home with the support of our HR team.

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.

It is important to note that even fully vaccinated persons are still able to contract and transmit the COVID-19 virus. The vaccines are not 100% fool-proof, but they do reduce your chances of contracting the virus and if you do, the symptoms are usually quite mild.

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.

We appreciate your support and continued adherence to the protocols we have implemented to protect our residents and team members. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Friendship Village of South Hills management team.

Thank you.

Bryan Welty

Executive Director