Editorial: Honesty, action justify confidence at Westmoreland Manor

Westmoreland County seems to have learned from what happened elsewhere.

On Sept. 21, officials announced that 20 residents and two staff members at the county nursing home, Westmoreland Manor, had tested positive for covid-19. Most of those tested were asymptomatic and the tests were conducted as part of the routine pandemic procedures now in place.

From the beginning, the county acknowledged more positive cases were expected.

That proved true. The numbers rose all week. As of Sunday, reported positive cases stand at 47 residents, 21 employees and one contracted staff person.

The numbers can be troubling, especially in a facility that has had no residents and just three employees and one contracted nurse test positive since March. There had been no positives since July.

Westmoreland Manor was clearly taking good, precautious action with its population of elderly residents who are among the most at risk from the disease. The 22,680 residents testing positive in Pennsylvania are just 14.6% of the 155,232 covid cases statewide. But about 67% of the 8,103 deaths are connected to nursing homes.

Which makes the way a nursing home reacts to a positive test so important.

Reacting with realistic appreciation for the easy spread and potential danger is what can help rein in the impact. Reacting with honesty and transparency can both reduce the fear bred by secrecy and let people have confidence in decision makers.

So far, Westmoreland County seems to be doing well on those fronts.

At Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County, a wildfire of cases burned through, with 448 positive cases among residents and staff to date and 73 deaths, according to recent figures. Media, family and even the state struggled with getting information. Inspections showed infection control problems even after dozens had died.

The National Guard was called in for help in May, weeks after residents started to die.

Westmoreland officials called on the National Guard almost immediately. Six members were on hand Sunday morning to assist with testing and will be on hand until at least Tuesday. A single unit has been designated for residents who test positive.

“I am very confident in our staff and their ability to combat this and eliminate it from our building,” Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew said when the outbreak was discovered.

Confidence is something that has been projected by some leaders in the face of the pandemic. It hasn’t always been appropriate. Chew’s confidence is because it accompanies smart moves and open lines of communication.