Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Rouse Warren County Home

There has been another positive COVID test at a Warren County nursing home.

On Friday, the Rouse Warren County Home released a statement that the results of state-mandated baseline testing had been received.

“Rouse Estate CEO Kenneth Schonbachler and Rouse Home Administrator Matt Saeli confirmed today that the Rouse Home has received the vast majority of results from the baseline COVID-19 testing conducted on July 20,” Marketing Director Kelsey Angove said in the release. “Out of over 400 residents and staff tested, one positive result was returned on a single employee.”

That result was immediately double-checked.

“The COVID-19 positive test was a result of the mandated testing in Pennsylvania for nursing home staff and residents,” Schonbachler said Friday. “The staff member who had tested positive is asymptomatic and subsequently tested negative for COVID-19 on this date.”

“No residents or other staff members tested positive for the disease,” Angove said.

“All of our residents and families have been notified,” Schonbachler said. “In accordance with HIPPA requirements, no further details will be released.”

“The health and safety of both our residents and staff is of the utmost importance, and we have been taking action to reduce the risk of exposure for all,” Schonbachler said. “Any resident or staff member who exhibits any symptom of COVID-19 will immediately be tested using a rapid results test. To date, we believe our proactive efforts at infection control have allowed us to keep all of our residents and all of our staff, excepting one, free from testing positive for the disease.”

A positive result was reported by Warren Manor on Wednesday, July 22.

Like the test at the Rouse Home, the person who tested positive at Warren Manor was tested again and came back negative.

“All employee results were negative and only one positive COVID-19 test result came back for a resident out of the 108 tested,” Administrator Susanna Hummel said Monday. “Our care community acted quickly to place this positive resident into COVID-19 isolation protocols. Out of further precaution, Warren Manor re-tested the entire neighborhood this resident resides on. Most results are back and are negative, including the resident who originally tested positive.”

“We are very proud of our team and their quick action to implement the COVID-19 isolation protocols and procedures to further protect our residents,” Hummel said. “We continue to work with our physicians to make sure we are treating each resident appropriately if they develop any respiratory signs or symptoms. We are also working with the local department of health and following all guidelines from the CDC and DOH.”

There were no positive results among the baseline tests at Kinzua Healthcare and Rehabilitation. “The safety of our residents and our employees remains our top priority,” according to a release from Guardian Healthcare. “Kinzua Healthcare & Rehabilitation has been conducting universal testing for COVID-19 as mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. All testing results were negative. We are exceptionally proud of our caregivers and we thank them for all of their hard work during this unprecedented public health crisis.”