Forest Hill Coronavirus Outbreak: 1 Dead, Several Infected

FOREST HILL, MD — Authorities confirmed one resident of a Harford County nursing home has died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. There are 24 cases of the virus — including eight residents and 16 staff — at Forest Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center, according to WMAR.

"Currently, a total of eight residents at Forest Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center have tested positive for COVID-19," Annaliese Impink, a spokesperson for Sava Senior Care, which manages the facility, said in a statement to Patch Tuesday afternoon. "Of those residents, five are being cared for at the Center and two are being treated at the hospital. Sadly, one resident has passed away."

Officials said the center in Forest Hill, which has 156 licensed beds, is taking precautions to ensure the virus does not spread.

"We are doing everything in our power to protect our residents and staff," Impink said. "This includes providing appropriate PPE [personal protective equipment]. We are working diligently to take heightened precautions and to adhere to protocols outlined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). We are also working closely with our local health department to prevent exposure and to protect all our residents and staff at the Center."

Staff members are given temperature screenings before every shift, and outside health care professionals are also screened before they come into the facility, Impink said.

Forest Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center notified staff and contacted families as soon as possible about the outbreak, according to Impink, who said officials increased communication with resident representatives, staff, families and partners.

"We are providing frequent updates and guidance to center teams so that they have the most current information, education and prevention protocols in place, including those from the Centers for Disease Control among other agencies," she said.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updated information and education to the center, staff, patients, residents and families, as updates become available," Impink said. "We appreciate the continued support of the long-term care community, and the agencies and associations that support us in our efforts."

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There are 232 cases of the new coronavirus in Harford County as of Tuesday, April 21, according to state health officials. A 27-year-old man who died April 13 from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, is the only death confirmed so far in Harford County. Six others are believed to have died from the illness in Harford County, but lab results are pending.

A week ago, there were 147 cases of the virus and no deaths from COVID-19 in Harford County.

"We're sort of holding our own," Harford County Health Officer Russell Moy said during an April 14 briefing, since at that time Harford County was one of a handful of counties that had not had a death reported from COVID-19. But he cautioned: "It's only a matter of time before an infection will take place in a nursing home," which could require an influx of resources to contain the spread of the virus.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced new regulatory requirements Sunday requiring nursing homes to inform residents, their families and representatives about cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, in their facilities. In addition, cases must be reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

See Also:

• MD Coronavirus: 10 Percent Of Patients Hospitalized, 584 Deaths
• Harford Crisis Center Allowed 13-Bed Expansion Due To Coronavirus
• Harford Man, 27, Dies From New Coronavirus: County Executive