5 MoCo Nursing Home Residents, Staff Have Coronavirus

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Five nursing home residents and staff members at three Montgomery County facilities have tested positive for the new coronavirus. All three nursing homes are now strengthening infection control procedures as a result.

Enhanced procedures being implemented at all three facilities includes conducting temperature checks twice daily for residents and staff, continued monitoring for symptoms, physical separation of residents to lower risk of exposure, no new admissions and no group gatherings or activities. Visitor restrictions have been in place for several weeks at all three nursing homes, so county officials believe that any potential exposure is limited to only staff and residents.

According to Montgomery County officials, three residents at Brighton Gardens on Tuckerman Lane in Bethesda have tested positive for the virus. Staff members identified as being at risk of exposure are self-quarantining. Residents there are being monitored for signs of fever and cough and will be tested as needed per CDC testing guidelines.

A staff member at Fox Chase Rehab and Nursing in Silver Spring tested positive for new coronavirus, the facility has enhanced its infection control procedures, too. The affected staff person is self-quarantining. The staff member resides in a neighboring jurisdiction, but county public health staff are assisting in a contact investigation. To date, no signs of illness in residents or additional staff have been identified, county officials shared. Relevant staff members have been advised to self-quarantine.

A staff member at the Fairland Center on Fairland Road in Silver Spring also has tested positive for the new coronavirus and the facility also has implemented enhanced infection control procedures. The affected staff person is self-quarantining and those staff members identified as having an exposure risk are self-quarantining. The staff member resides in a neighboring jurisdiction, but county public health staff are assisting in a contact investigation. To date, no signs of illness in residents or additional staff have been identified and no residents or staff members have been advised to self-quarantine.

“We continue to closely follow these individuals and are working with the facilities to monitor any additional signs of illness,” said county health officer Dr. Travis Gayles in a statement. “We continue to urge everyone in the community to follow these practices to stay well and protect those most vulnerable: do not go out unless necessary, do not gather in groups of more than 10 people, maintain distance between you and others, stay home if you are sick and wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. We continue to provide guidance to nursing homes and long-term care facilities and have regular communication with them as they navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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