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COVID-19 cases found at skilled nursing facility in Riverside

April 5, 2020

April 5, 2020


Riverside County

NEWS RELEASE

Contacts:
Jose Arballo Jr.

Senior Public Information Specialist
(951) 712-3705
[email protected]

Brooke Federico
Riverside County Public Information Officer
(951) 743-0075
[email protected]

COVID-19 cases found at skilled nursing facility in Riverside
 

About 30 patients and some staff members from a Riverside skilled nursing facility have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and health officials are trying to determine whether others at the Magnolia Avenue location may have the virus.

Test results from 30 patients at the Extended Care Hospital of Riverside were positive for the virus, said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer. Officials are awaiting test results from other patients and employees from the 90-plus bed facility. In the meantime, the facility is closed to new patients, staff are not allowed to work at other facilities, sick patients are isolated, and all patients are being closely monitored. Staff members are using personal protective equipment and those who test positive will be removed from work until cleared.

“We will be seeing more and more of these outbreaks in the community,” Kaiser said. “This is a vulnerable population and we’ll take all the steps necessary to protect them. But these steps can only work effectively if people stay home, stay apart, and cover up their faces in public to reduce overall transmission.”

Trent Evans, general counsel for Extended Care, said there is nothing more important than the safety of residents and the associates who care for them daily.

“We’re proud of our team’s dedication and professionalism during this global pandemic,” Evans said. “Extended Care has been proactively on the forefront of the efforts to stave off COVID 19, strictly following all government suggested and mandated protocols, including long term infection control measures in anticipation of circumstances like these.

“We have been working closely with one of California's premier infectious disease specialist physicians to assure that the facility maintains the highest standards in all areas of care while our attention is trained on infection protection. We are confident that Extended Care Hospital of Riverside will continue to be a top-rated facility going forward.”

Rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes present a challenge for health officials because of the population that resides there – older, less healthy and some with underlying health issues – and because of their close proximity. The county particularly prioritizes investigations in these facilities due to the high risk of serious illness that outbreaks pose.

“This is a very serious situation and shows why we must all take serious steps to change our behavior, because these steps are intended to protect our most vulnerable. They need and deserve our protection and we must all do our part,” said Vice Chair Karen Spiegel, Second District Supervisor. “I wish all of these patients a full recovery.”

In Riverside County, there are 799 confirmed novel coronavirus cases overall and 19 COVID-19 related deaths.

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