54 Coronavirus Cases, 10 Deaths At Willowbrook Nursing Home

WILLOWBROOK, IL — Just over a month after announcing its first case of the new coronavirus, Chateau Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Willowbrook has 54 confirmed coronavirus cases and 10 deaths related to the virus, according to DuPage County Health Department records.

At press time, the cases include 35 residents and 19 employees. This means the number of positive coronavirus cases has more than doubled at the facility since mid-March, when 22 confirmed cases were reported.

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In a March press conference, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said affected patients have been isolated at a hospital or in a separate wing of the facility.

According to an April 2 coronavirus update on Chateau Center's website, family member calls were no longer being forwarded to residents "to allow our Caregiving staff to continuing providing care to our residents and not be distracted by telephone calls." The update said messages were being forwarded to residents and that calls were being returned by members of the social services staff "within a few hours."

The update said "As we reported in our last update, life here at our home is slowly returning to 'normal,' although, there is probably a 'new normal,' but things are moving and getting better each day."

The update added that the nursing center is screening employees and residents for symptoms and has enhanced "environmental cleaning and disinfection." In addition, non-essential visitors have been restricted.

At press time, Chateau Willowbrook did not immediately respond to repeated requests for comment from Patch regarding patients who have recovered or what further safeguards are being put in place to protect residents and employees.

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