Coronavirus Case At Retirement Home: Officials Explain Next Steps

GREENPORT, NY — After a per diem employee at the Peconic Landing retirement community in Greenport tested positive for coronavirus, the facility's staff reached out to explain what precautions are being taken — and outline next steps.

Once the employee was identified, Peconic Landing officials said they were able to ascertain that the person "worked in a relatively isolated area, with minimal contact to our population," according to Peconic Landing CEO and President Bob Syron.

All residents, Syron said, will "remain in place," and there is no "suspicion or observation" that any of the seniors are exhibiting symptoms. While they are being watched and monitored closely, there are no quarantines, he said.

On Tuesday, Peconic Landing said in a release that notification had been given by health officials that the employee tested positive for the virus.

Peconic Landing is in contact with Suffolk County health officials and following their direction, the retirement community said in a statement. The per diem employee worked for Peconic Landing for four hours after unknowingly being exposed to the virus in the greater community, the retirement group said.

"Due to HIPAA regulations we are unable to provide specific information about the employee," Peconic Landing said.

Pending further guidance from the county health department, Peconic Landing took the precautionary step of placing employees who worked in close proximity with the infected employee on leave. Those employees have not been tested, Syron said, based on current protocols that say no one is to be tested unless they exhibit symptoms; that determination is made by the hospitals and Suffolk County Department of Health, he said.

"We offer every assurance to our members, members' families and employees that Peconic Landing will be following all recommendations and will act in the best interests of our entire community," Peconic Landing added.

Peconic Landing notified members of the situation Tuesday evening, with family members slated to be notified Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Peconic Landing President and CEO Robert Syron, as well as Chief Operating Officer Gregory Garrett, spoke with Patch about next steps.

"We've gone above and beyond," Syron said, to keep residents safe. "We've been hyper vigilant." The Suffolk County Department of Health, he said, has protocols that must be followed.

Even before the per diem employee was identified, Syron said preparations to fight back against coronavirus have been ongoing for the past several weeks, including the retraining of staff, the posting of signage, and increased sanitation. On Monday, Peconic Landing suspended group activity and service in multiple dining venues.

Last week, Syron said, extra sanitation began. "We, as an organization, have a pandemic policy for the flu; we always have," he said.

The area where the person worked was thoroughly cleaned, as were all common spaces; staffers have been brought in to enhance the sanitization efforts Wednesday, Syron said.

When Peconic Landing received the call on Monday at 4:30 p.m. about the confirmation that the employee had tested positive, "We went into full mode," Syron said. The goal, he added, was to give comprehensive information to members and families, as well as the town supervisor, local officials — and the community.

"With the absence of information, people have more fear. We want to arm people with more information," Syron said. "We are health care providers. We care about the community that we operate and live in, that we are raising our families in."

Garrett said a televised message was sent out to staff Wednesday, with a focus on transparency in communication.

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Once the Department of Health contacted Peconic Landing, and notified the individual employee, the two groups worked together to identify people that employee may have come in contact with not just at work, but at social engagements.

Peconic Landing's media spokesperson said the DOH does a "thorough interview", on the phone, with everyone they believe may have been exposed to the person and to any individuals who may have been in close proximity.

So far, visitation to those patients in the nursing home has been suspended. Visits for those in independent living are still allowed, but Syron said he was slated to meet with Peconic Landing's medical director Wednesday for further discussion.

"This hit us late yesterday," he said, adding that the first steps after the confirmation involved numerous calls to the Suffolk County Department of Health, state officials and local leaders, with an eye toward "enhancing their recommendations. We want to go above and beyond."

Peconic Landing's Health Center has been named among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Nursing Homes” numerous times. "We've always had a high track record and a high standard of care," Syron said.

Staffers have been reaching out to members' families to establish direct points of communication, in order to provide updates and address concerns, Syron said.

Syron thanked community partners and all agencies involved with working to keep members safe. "Stay calm and we'll get through this," he said. "We are extremely grateful to the greater community for the support, and we always have been. We live here, too. We care."

On Wednesday, the number of coronavirus cases on Long Island spiked to 31, with hundreds quarantined.