LINN COUNTY, IA – As of June 26, 2020, Linn Manor Care Center, a long-term care facility in Linn County, has recovered from the COVID-19 outbreak, which began affecting the facility in early-April. Recovery is defined as no new cases for two consecutive incubation periods, or 28 days.
Linn Manor Care Center is one of six long-term care facilities in Linn County that experienced an outbreak of COVID-19. A total of 38 residents and staff tested positive for COVID-19, 32 individuals recovered, and 6 residents died.
Linn County Public Health and Linn Manor Care worked diligently to stop the spread of COVID-19, with assistance from the Iowa Department of Public Health. Upon identification of the outbreak, Linn Manor Care Center implemented measures to prevent spread of the virus, including limiting visitors, screening staff and residents for symptoms of COVID-19, designating an isolation area for ill residents with dedicated staff, isolating new residents upon admission, and implementing additional infection prevention practices. Additionally, personal protective equipment availability was assessed, and adequate supplies were ensured to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We would like to express how incredibly thankful we are for all of our staff, their teamwork, willingness to work long hours when needed, and selflessness that continues to show during these unprecedented times. We would also like to thank Linn County Public Health, Linn County Emergency Management Agency, residents’ families, and the community as a whole. We would like to express our utmost gratitude to Mercy Hospital and Dr. Taeger for offering us emotional support, PPE supplies, and staffing to ensure we were able to continuously provide quality care,” said Chelsi Ingles, Linn Manor Care Center Administrator.
COVID-19 spreads easily and rapidly in settings where people live close together. Older adults and those with underlying chronic medical conditions are at an increased risk of severe complications or death due to COVID-19 infection. We remind all of our community members to do their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the community and to high-risk individuals such as those living in long-term care facilities. This includes washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, staying home when ill, practicing social distancing by maintaining 6 feet between yourself and others, and wearing a cloth face covering or mask when social distancing is not possible.
For more information on COVID-19, call 2-1-1 or visit www.LinnCounty.org/COVID19.
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Linn County Public Health, an agency within Linn County government, serves more than 225,000 residents of Linn County to prevent disease and injury, promote healthy living, protect the environment, and ensure public health preparedness. Learn more at linncounty.org/health or by calling 319-892-6000. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LCPublicHealth and follow us on Twitter @LCPublicHealth.