The Berrien County Health Department is in constant contact with nursing homes throughout the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the department is acting as a partner to assisted living facilities.
“We have no regulatory authority over any of these facilities, but rather we are there as a public health partner on the ground, making sure we can go into these facilities to talk with their staff and their leadership.”
The health department works to ensure they have PPE and training. Conrad says assisted living facilities are a particular concern nationwide, given the age and health of their residents, along with the fact staff often have to work closely with those residents.
“There has been a certain population, a certain percentage, that have turned up positive without having any symptoms at all,” Conrad said. “So it’s very possible for the staff at these facilities to be coming and going, going about their work, interacting with residents and other staff, never feeling any symptoms, never feeling sick, and all the while they could be spreading the virus.”
The state coronavirus website lists three nursing homes in Berrien County to have had COVID-19 cases. Hardest hit is West Woods of Niles, where there have been 43 cases of the illness. Also according to the state, 62 of Berrien County’s 425 COVID-19 cases are in nursing homes. Conrad notes all of the area nursing facilities have taken strong steps to prevent the illness, like cancelling activities. She notes some have moved to mass testing of all residents.
