State DOH will test all residents, staff for Covid-19 at The Villages
One more death reported at Albion nursing home due to Covid-19
ALBION – The New York State Department of Health will be testing all residents and staff at The Village of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, where there has been a big outbreak of Covid-19.
The facility has 68 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among its residents. Today, another death was reported at The Villages, bringing the total deaths due to Covid-19 to 17.
The DOH will likely do the testing mid-week, said Paul Pettit, the county’s public health director. The tests should identify people with the virus, including those without symptoms. Staff members can then be quarantined and removed from the facility to reduce the chances of the virus continuing to spread, Pettit said today after his weekly 4 p.m. news briefing.
The county on Thursday evening also received 307 testing kits to be shared among the two other long-term care facilities in Orleans – the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital and Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina. All of the residents and staff will be tested at those sites, which aren’t facing a Covid-19 outbreak.
Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman, said she is grateful for the increased testing. The Legislature has asked for the state Department of Health and Attorney General’s Office to investigate the “terrible situation” at The Villages.
Johnson also said the county is pressing the state for a mobile testing site like in the other neighboring counties.
“We are also requesting that New York State add a mobile testing site here so our residents don’t have to drive 45 minutes to get tested,” Johnson said.
