The Peru Gazette

Residents and staff to be tested following positive COVID-19 test 

PLATTSBURGH, NY (09/10/2021) – All visitation has been temporarily suspended at the UVM Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) after a CVPH team member who was recently on the Skilled Nursing floor tested positive for COVID-19.

The employee, who has not been in the facility since Monday, September 6, is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and began experiencing symptoms on Wednesday.

Suspending visitation is one of several actions CVPH SNF took in accordance with New York State Department of Health guidelines for long-term care facilities immediately following notification of the positive test result by the hospital’s Infection Control team yesterday morning.

CVPH SNF Administrator Susan Biondolillo said other steps taken to ensure the health and safety of residents and staff members include:

• Testing all SNF staff members and any CVPH employee who has been on the floor since Monday.
• Requesting permission to test all SNF residents.
• Employees caring for SNF residents will continue to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Preparing for further testing as required by state guidelines.

Family members and residents have been notified about the positive test result and the suspension of visitation.

“We know it is incredibly difficult for our families and residents to have visitation suspended,” Biondolillo said. “We are working to resume visitation as quickly and safely as possible based on state guidelines while limiting the spread of COVID-19.”

Biondolillo also encouraged loved ones to remain connected with residents through phone calls and digital meeting technology. Staff members can assist in facilitating those connections.

“I am grateful for the incredible work our team has done to provide compassionate care for our residents throughout this pandemic,” she said. “Once again, we are reminded about how opportunistic this virus can be. It is important to remain vigilant and continue taking all the precautions necessary to keep it at bay.”

Hospital officials added that includes getting vaccinated, which they said is proven to be the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from severe illness and death caused by COVID-19.