Westmoreland Manor halts family visits after employee tests positive for coronavirus

Westmoreland officials on Friday reported an employee at the county-owned nursing home tested positive for the coronavirus and, as a result, outdoor visitation of residents, which started earlier this week, are temporarily halted.

According a statement issued by county Solicitor Melissa Guiddy, county officials learned the employee had not been at Westmoreland Manor since July 25 and had no direct contact with residents. The positive test result was revealed late Thursday.

“The Manor is following the guidance of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Department of Epidemiology concerning this matter. As outlined in the phased reopening plan, the facility will halt the outdoor visitation and will re-evaluate the ability to re-institute the visits in 14 days,” the statement read.

Visitation of residents, which had been halted in March, resumed this week on an appointment-only basis. Those visits were conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday under tent erected on a patio outside the 400-bed facility.

All staff and others who have been allowed to enter the nursing home since March are subject to temperature checks and instructed to stay home if ill.

The positive test is the fourth connected to the Manor since the onset of the pandemic. Officials said a private nurse assigned to the Manor tested positive this spring but was quarantined before having any access to other staff and residents the Hempfield facility.

State mandated testing of all residents and staff in late June identified two administrators who were positive for the coronavirus. Neither had any contact with residents, county officials said.

“Throughout this pandemic, the health and safety of all residents and staff has been the Manor’s highest priority. The Manor will remain vigilant about its screening protocols and infection control procedures and will continue to monitor all residents and staff,” Guiddy wrote.