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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

Covid-19 Slams Gracedale

From Northampton County: Northampton County continues to do everything possible to limit exposure to the residents and staff at Gracedale during the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, there are three residents who have tested positive for the virus. Two are in an isolation unit at the nursing home, one is in the hospital.

Out of the 700 employees which work at Gracedale, ten have tested positive for the Coronavirus. All are at home in self-quarantine.

“I want to thank the Gracedale administration and all the brave employees who show up to work every day to take care of our most vulnerable residents,” says Lamont McClure. “They are heroes and we all appreciate their service.”

Blogger's Note: Over the weekend, I did receive comments indicating two residents  were in isolation. Those readers were correct.

If Covid-19 spreads throughout the nursing home, it might become necessary to force county employees in other departments to assume some of the responsibilities at the home.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, this is sudden. I asked a councilperson about this rumor earlier today and they said they were unaware of any of that. Did this just happen overnight?

Anonymous said...

Gracedale no longer has the volunteers helping, no visitors, just staff. Hats off to those staff going in every day to care for those that can’t care for themselves. The communication from administration and Council about Gracedale has been sketchy, and the facility is understaffed as it is. A weekly report on the status of the residents and staff at Gracedale might help ease the fears of families that have their loved ones working or as patents
At the home.

Anonymous said...

Having spent almost a year there, ten years ago, after a serious accident; while well below the age of an average resident, I would personally volunteer to assist there in any way possible.
Suggestions?

Anonymous said...

12:42, If he hides this from his county council, what the Hel isn't he telling the public about Gracedale. the council groups wont' check on Gracedale. The press needs to look into this to verify information. Are employees and residents safe?.

Anonymous said...

LaMont McClure and Charlie Dertinger should volunteer at the County Nursing Home and put their life on the line before asking or forcing anyone else to volunteer. Don't ask me to do something that these leaders won't do. Since the government is basically shut down, shouldn't they and other top management officials have plenty of time on there hands?

Anonymous said...

Leaders lead from the front, not the front of their kitchens. Where is county government?

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Wow, this is sudden. I asked a councilperson about this rumor earlier today and they said they were unaware of any of that. Did this just happen overnight?"

It is. We had one staffer who tested positive and one resident in isolation late last week. It jumped quickly. Most of the residents are high risk and a contagious virus will rip through it. At one nursing home in Beaver County with 450 residents and 300 staff, the disease is so widespread they have been told by the state DOH to stop counting. Everyone is presumed to have it.

In Lower Macungie, 49 residents and staff at a senior living facility have Covid-19.

https://www.wfmz.com/health/coronavirus/49-at-lehigh-valley-senior-care-facility-test-positive-for-covid-19-2-residents-have/article_ea0fecd8-7868-11ea-b6ae-3fe7bf6d7c1f.html

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/west/2020/04/06/Brighton-Rehab-and-Wellness-Beaver-PA-nursing-home-coronavirus-positive-cases/stories/202004060124?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=editors-picks-frontpage-frontpage&utm_campaign=Headlines-Newsletter

Bernie O'Hare said...

"12:42, If he hides this from his county council, what the Hel isn't he telling the public about Gracedale. the council groups wont' check on Gracedale. "

The county has been completely transparent about Gracedale. When there was one staffer we were told. When the situation got worse, as it did in recent days, we were told. Our information comes straight from the county. He IS telling the public.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Having spent almost a year there, ten years ago, after a serious accident; while well below the age of an average resident, I would personally volunteer to assist there in any way possible.
Suggestions?z"


You are amazing to make this offer. Sadly, the nursing home will not allow volunteers at this time. I think they need to revisit that policy now that testing is becoming more accessible. I would test all volunteers and then monitor temperatures.

Everyone in all nursing homes and hospitals should be tested.

Anonymous said...

It is now more clear people ARE getting tested, when necessary. Also, the testing must be used only in cases of greatest risk. Not, just a cough one didn’t have last week.

At-home test kits are now starting to hit the supply chain distribution. It will begin with testing kits ON DEMAND, at your family physician, your drugstore, your WaWa. In a year, every dollar store!

Anonymous said...

The reason the jail count is low, I believe, is the inmates aren't getting tested. If two nurses are infected, and given how much interaction they have with inmates, how could they not? At least do a sample size. This place may be a powder keg!

Anonymous said...

Any kool-aid drinkers in the area of gracedale? Bring some doses of Dr Trump magic potion (just released that he has stock interest in the drug maker) and magically cure the sick.

Anonymous said...

How are they reallocating county staff to gracedale? Does this mean if a person worked in finance or a clerks office etc, they now have to work at gracedale?

What if they say no or can they say no?

Anonymous said...

10:13 AM

Want to call her a kool-aid drinker to her face?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/06/democrat-karen-whitsett-coronavirus-hydroxychloroquine-trump/2957897001/

Anonymous said...

"He IS telling the public."

Is he? Everything? Or politically strategic comments. If council members are kept in the dark, what can the public hope for?

Anonymous said...

Barron's got something to say about everything. The guy can't shut up. Where's he been? Where are any of our county leaders? MIA

Anonymous said...

10.13
read the article
" Whitsett, who had experienced shortness of breath, swollen lymph nodes, and what felt like a sinus infection.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320931#causes

"Whitsett said she has been taking it in combination with antibiotics."
Not everyone gets the full corona.
So she is without a solid foundation claiming a malaria drug cured her.

Anonymous said...

4.05
And that again amounts to anecdotal claims without a solid foundation.
nope on the trump making money deal not my post.
of course the maker of that drug did pay trump and hannity's lawyer/bagman Cohen
one million for "insight" into trumpie's pharma policies.
you know the one in jail

Anonymous said...

County parks are closing down until further notice effective at sunset today. Next step in mitigating against coronavirus in public spaces here Northampton County. This disease is gonna go big and stick around for quite awhile longer.

Anonymous said...

5:07

"And that again amounts to anecdotal claims without a solid foundation. "

I guess that's why South Korea includes it as part of their treatment guidelines.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/03/12/South-Korea-experts-recommend-anti-HIV-anti-malaria-drugs-for-COVID-19/6961584012321/https:

Yeah, I know, "preliminary", "anecdotal", but a far cry from drinking the Kool-Aid. Oh, that wasn't your comment? Well, I guess you're in the wrong conversation then.

Regarding that Trump pharma money (you didn't provide a link, so I had to do your homework for you again), not exactly an open and shut case.

//www.newsweek.com/michael-cohen-donald-trump-novartis-twitter-covid-19-1496291

The idea that Trump is directly benefiting financially sounds kind of "anecdotal" and "without a solid foundation."

Anonymous said...

Better do a right to know request.

How many people in the last 15 days have been discharged to the coroner or an undertaker. Were all those discharged given a Covid19 test. Were the results back on tests. Average stay of the deceased.

How many employees have refused assignments, called off or resigned in last 15 days.

Dig deep Bernie. Coverup in the works.

Anonymous said...

6.20
thanks for the heavy lifting on the homework.However i said trumps bagman got paid.
The guy that paid the porn star for trump.
BTW South Korea allows those groups to try such meds.
from the article"The South Korean groups warned that there is "currently no standard treatment for COVID-19," and urged medical staff to use their best judgment when treating patients.
Their main recommendation was a HIV drug.


Anonymous said...

This is about Gracedale not your Trump pissing match. We are not getting the full story about Gracedale. Please, some news source dig into this.

Anonymous said...

County rumor mill says that 60 residents are compromised at gracedale. Put your investigative journalist pants on an blow the story open Bernie, the people deserve to know

Anonymous said...

If McClueless goes quiet about Gracedale, you know they are in trouble.

Anonymous said...

Without mass testing of staff and residents you cannot begin to assume how to treat or handle the facility