20 residents at Westmoreland Manor test positive for coronavirus; more cases expected

Nearly two dozen people at Westmoreland Manor tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend, and county officials said the number of those infected could increase in the coming days.

Routine testing conducted last week identified the cases among 20 residents and two staffers, of which many appeared to be asymptomatic, county solicitor Melissa Guiddy confirmed Monday.

“All staff and residents will continue to be tested in accordance with recommendations from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Department of Epidemiology,” a county news release stated. “Testing is scheduled to be completed by (Tuesday) morning. All staff and residents that tested negative will be retested every three to seven days until testing identifies no new cases of covid-19 infection among staff or residents for a period of at least 14 days since the most recent positive result.”

The cases are the first among residents at the 400-bed nursing home in Hempfield. As of Monday, there are 337 residents at the Manor.

One county employee and a private contracted nurse also were found to be infected with the coronavirus during testing conducted last week.

Since March, three staffers and another private nurse had been diagnosed with covid-19 — none since late July.

“Westmoreland Manor has had zero cases during the six months of this pandemic until this weekend, even while other homes battled daily positive cases and resident deaths. I am very proud of our staff, but as we know this is a very tenacious virus and only a few virale are needed to create infection,” Commissioner Doug Chew said. “I am very confident in our staff and their ability to combat this and eliminate it from our building.”

Commissioner Gina Cerilli, in statement emailed Monday, said cases among residents at the Manor was “inevitable.”

“Our management and staff are following all the guidelines by the state and feds. I know this is a very scary time for residents and families, but please know that our residents’ health and safety is our top priority. The Manor will remain vigilant about its screening protocols and infection control procedures and will continue to monitor all residents and staff. We will keep the residents and families up to date as quickly as possible,” Cerilli said.

At the onset of the pandemic in March, county officials closed the Manor to visitors. As cases waned this summer, county officials in July allowed family members to visit residents outdoors. A few days later, visits were suspended after a staffer tested positive.

The county last week reopened the Manor to outdoor visits but again suspended them in the wake of the newly discovered cases. Visits with residents through a window still will be permitted, Guiddy said.

Infections among staff and residents in nursing homes has been an issue throughout Pennsylvania during the coronavirus outbreak.

According to the most recent statistics from the state’s Department of Health, since March there have been 22,279 cases among residents and 4,882 among staffers at 960 long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania. The state reports that 5,353 deaths are attributed to those homes.

In Westmoreland County, 24 nursing homes reported a total of 218 cases among residents, 64 to staff and 31 deaths.

Commissioners last week approved a contract with Excela Health to conduct testing of Manor staff and residents. Officials described that testing as routine and required under new federal standards.

Chew said infected Manor residents would remain in the facility but moved to a special unit.