Rockland Takes Test Kits To Nursing Homes: New Coronavirus Update

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Rockland County has delivered a batch of new coronavirus test kits to local nursing homes to help them meet a statewide order that requires periodic COVID-19 testing of all personnel in nursing homes and adult care facilities.

The county's outbreak continues. As of May 14, there were 135 people hospitalized in Rockland with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. That's a decline since May 8, when there were 170 people hospitalized in the county with confirmed or suspected cases. There have been 32 additional deaths since May 8 as the death toll reached 594.

The test kits were provided to the county by the State of New York and were allocated based on the number of staff members at each facility, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, Director of Fire, Emergency Services Chris Kear and Commissioner of Health Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert said in a news release.

The Office of Fire and Emergency Services inventoried, sorted, and delivered the kits as directed by the Commissioner of Health.

Facilities have several options available to ensure testing of personnel:

1. Facilities may offer testing to their personnel through their occupational health program.
2. Facilities may direct their personnel to a local drive-through or walk-in testing site.
3. Personnel can call 1-888-364-3065 to inquire about testing, or they can go to a website. Facilities must advise personnel to find out how to get documentation of their results, such as through a laboratory portal.
4. Facilities may contract with a third party to offer testing.
5. Facilities may accept documentation of testing conducted by an individual’s healthcare provider.

“Based on the Governor’s Executive Order testing must occur in these facilities twice per week. While the County of Rockland does not have any direct oversight of these facilities, we are doing everything in our power to help protect residents," said County Executive Ed Day. "We know how difficult and worrying this situation is with family members unable to visit their loved ones. Our Department of Health will continue to follow up with these facilities to ensure each agency is aware of the proper protocols and to help them as we are able."

These facilities were provided with COVID-19 test kits:

• Friedwald Center
• Pine Valley
• Northern Manor
• Northern Metropolitan
• Northern Riverview
• The Willows at Ramapo
• Tolstoy Foundation
• Nyack Ridge