7 more residents test positive for coronavirus at Westmoreland Manor in Hempfield

Seven more residents at Westmoreland Manor tested positive for coronavirus, county officials said Tuesday.

With those test results, the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield has now has 54 residents and 23 employees who have been been infected with covid-19 since mid-September.

No additional employees have tested positive for the virus as of Tuesday.

The additional cases mean 16% of the Manor’s 336 residents have coronavirus.

Residents who test positive are moved to a designated unit and employees are required to quarantine at home.

The Pennsylvania National Guard arrived over the weekend to assist with ongoing testing at the 408-bed facility. The guard was expected to complete its stay on Tuesday but county officials said they have asked the six members of the unit to continue working at the nursing home.

“We want to make sure the nursing home is staff to its fullest potential,” said Commissioner Sean Kertes.

Staff and residents who test negative for the virus will be retested every three to seven days until no additional cases are found.

Commissioners earlier this week announced that Manor staff — about 400 employees — will receive hazard pay in addition to their salaries.

No residents at the Manor had tested positive for the virus prior to the current outbreak. Four Manor employees, including two administrators, had previously been infected but none since late July, officials said.