McLean Assisted Living Resident Tests Positive For Coronavirus

MCLEAN, VA — An Arleigh Burke Pavilion Assisted Living resident at McLean's Vinson Hall Retirement Community tested positive for the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 illness, the community announced Saturday. Three employees also tested positive, and an additional employee is under investigation as a potential case.

"Our team alerted the Fairfax County Health Department, who has been exceptionally helpful and supportive," said Libby Bush, CEO of Vinson Hall Retirement Community. "We will continue to work with them closely to do all we can for this resident and all others."

One employee who tested positive works on the dining team, and the other three work in Arleigh Burke Pavilion. The four employees have been isolating at home for several days. The Fairfax County Health Department is assisting with the community's containment plan. This includes tracking contacts of the confirmed cases.

Bush said in a letter Friday that Vinson Hall Retirement Community prepared for the possibility of a resident having COVID-19 by designating an isolation area in the Kathy Martin Community Building. A resident showing COVID-19 symptoms are placed on isolation protocol, and employees monitor all residents during every shift.

The retirement community had been planning for the likelihood of its first case after bolstering infection protocols earlier this year and creating a COVID-19 Emergency Operations Team in early March. The community began screening all staff and visitors on March 8, and all visitation was restricted on March 13. Only immediate relatives are allowed to visit to deliver essential items or for medical necessities. All staff and visitors were directed to wear masks.

As of April 10, the Fairfax Health District reported 778 total COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths. These numbers cover Fairfax County, Falls Church City and Fairfax City, but the health department does not release locations of cases for privacy reasons. The rate of cases is 66 per 100,000 people.

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