Two more die at Wyandotte County rehab center, facility now has 56 COVID-19 cases
Two more residents of a Kansas City, Kansas, rehabilitation and nursing facility have died after testing positive for the coronavirus, increasing the number of deaths there to six.
Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation now appears to account for the biggest outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the state. As of Wednesday, 48 residents have tested positive and eight employees, according to information released by the Unified Government Public Health Department. Seven residents are hospitalized.
The department said on its Facebook page Wednesday that it continues to work with the facility to determine who may have been exposed.
In an email to The Star Tuesday evening, Riverbend’s executive director, Cory Schulte, didn’t answer specific questions about how the virus got inside the facility, or how much testing is being done or if there’s adequate staffing at the facility. He said he and his staff were working to help and treat residents with COVID-19.
“Please know that the actions we have taken up to this point and are taking in this moment (and will take in the future) with respect to managing the challenges created by the Coronavirus are guided by medical professionals,” Schulte said, “and the original and updated publications and directives from the CDC, CMS, and State public health authorities.
“We are working very hard to do the right thing for our patients, their families, and our staff, every single day.”
On Tuesday, 37 cases had been linked to the KCK facility, which offers in-house therapy and long term nursing care. Four residents had died.
At that time, it was the second health care/nursing facility in Kansas to have an immense outbreak. In Coffey County, Life Care Center of Burlington has had 41 cases and one death.
Schulte, of Riverbend, said he and his staff are “sincerely and deeply saddened by the loss” of residents to the virus.
“We at Riverbend are sending our thoughts and prayers to their families and friends, as those left behind attempt to navigate in the absence of their loved ones,” Schulte said in the email to The Star.
He also said he wanted to express his gratitude to the staff that continues to work morning and night during the pandemic.
“It is during difficult times that we learn where our strengths are,” he said, “and I am filled with appreciation for the Facility team and their commitment to the Riverbend community.”
