By Connie Morrison and Carol Vaughn —
The National Guard last week helped test residents and staff of Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Nassawadox for COVID-19, according to a spokesperson for American Healthcare, the facility’s parent company.
The Virginia Department of Health called in the Guard for support as they seek to do more testing across the state, according to American Healthcare spokesperson Jennifer Eddy.
“The Nassawadox facility had a couple of cases of COVID, so they quickly requested the Virginia Department of Health to come in and to test all staff and residents,” Eddy said.
A National Guard medical crew began doing testing at the facility last Wednesday, with testing continuing Thursday — sparking curiosity among passersby who saw a tent and unusual activity going on outside the nursing home.
“We are hoping to have a complete picture of the COVID situation in that facility, at least a point-in-time snapshot of where COVID is, that we can respond to more aggressively here in the next couple of days,” Eddy said last week.
Test results included 46 employees and 43 residents who tested positive for the virus, Eddy said in a May 5 email.
“We are continuing to provide top levels of care but are very thankful for the added support provided by both the local health department and several skilled staff volunteers who have moved over from sister facilities to help us out,” Eddy said.
Northampton County had a large jump in the number of positive cases reported last Thursday on the Virginia Department of Health website — going from 36 cases Wednesday to 64 the next day.
The health department soon will begin reporting cases by ZIP code, according to Virginia Health Commissioner Dr. M. Norman Oliver, who spoke at a press briefing in Richmond.
Heritage Hall asked employees to log their time away from work due to COVID as paid time off for administrative purposes, but has a plan in place “to address COVID-specific paid time off adjustments as needed when employees return to work,” Eddy said.
Eddy called the Heritage Hall staff “phenomenal,” saying they have been “showing up and giving it everything they’ve got to make sure that the residents are not only safe, but also that their living environment is warm and friendly and the kind of place that any of us would want to live, even in this most difficult moment.”
A community vehicular “Honk Fest” parade was being planned Friday from noon to 2 p.m. to show support for Heritage Hall residents and employees.
Both businesses and families are invited to decorate their cars and participate. Anyone interested in getting involved can call Sarah Damon at 757-442-5600 for more details. There also is information about the event at https://www.facebook.com/events/523901784968927/
