More residents, staff test positive for coronavirus at Harrisonville nursing home
Two more residents and another staff member from a Harrisonville nursing home have tested positive for COVID-19.
The cases announced Wednesday bring the total at Meadow View Health & Rehabilitation to 22.
The number of cases has increased since the first few were announced April 9.
Of the 22 cases, 19 are residents and three are staff members.
That number includes three residents — all women in their 80s — who have died from COVID-19. Many others who have tested positive remain in isolation at the facility. Two are recovering at a hospital, according to a news release from Meadow View.
The three employees who have tested positive are recovering at their homes.
The Cass County Health Department says it has been working closely with Meadow View to investigate COVID-19 cases and case contacts. It has also been trying to help the Harrisonville facility mitigate the spread of the disease
Spokespeople for Meadow View and the health department told The Star it is unknown how the novel coronavirus was first introduced to the facility. There is “no real way” to learn exactly how the outbreak started, said Sarah Czech of the health department.
Craig Workman, a spokesman for Meadow View, said they focused on trying to prevent illness when coronavirus became an issue nationally and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began issuing guidelines. The facility, home to about 79 residents, began screening employees and other health care workers for symptoms of COVID-19 on March 12, Workman said. It also restricted visitors last month, ceased group activities, closed the dining rooms and encouraged residents to remain their rooms. Residents showing symptoms for COVID-19 were tested, and testing started the week of April 6, he said.
At least 48 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Cass County, where Meadow View is located, according to statistics from the local health department.
Statewide, at least 4,895 COVID-19 cases have been reported and 147 people have died as of Wednesday, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
