McLean Retirement Home Resident With Coronavirus Dies

MCLEAN, VA — A resident who tested positive for the new coronavirus at McLean's Vinson Hall Retirement Community died Friday, the facility announced. The resident lived at Arleigh Burke Pavilion, where 15 other residents tested positive for the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 illness.

The resident had underlying health conditions and received 24-hour care before COVID-19 illness, according to Vinson Hall Retirement Community. After showing symptoms of COVID-19 illness, the individual was tested for the virus 11 days before his or her passing. The resident was immediately isolated and monitored by nursing staff. The resident's daughter was at the bedside when the resident died at the retirement community.

"Our deepest condolences go out to the resident’s family and friends," said CEO Libby Bush in a letter to the community. "It’s always a deep loss when one of our residents dies. COVID-19 has created an additional layer of trauma that we have been forced to confront. It tests our strength and resilience in countless ways."

The retirement community confirmed its first positive cases involving staff on April 10 and the first resident case the next day. The resident who died and the 15 other positive residents at Vinson Hall Retirement Community live at Arleigh Burke Pavilion, the assisted living and skilled nursing care facility. One of the residents has recovered and left isolation.

Two dining staff members at Vinson Hall and seven staff members at Arleigh Burke Pavilion tested positive. There are no resident cases at the Vinson Hall, Willow Oak, or The Sylvestery facilities as of Monday.

After one death and one recovery, there are 14 current cases among residents. According to a Sunday update from Arleigh Burke Pavilion administrator Ibrahim Kamara, 11 residents are in isolation and three are in the hospital. Sunday marked four days without a new positive case at Arleigh Burke Pavilion.

The retirement community is working with the Fairfax County Health Department to contain the outbreak. A spokesperson for Vinson Hall Retirement Community told Patch about testing procedures in an email. "When a resident presented COVID-19 clinical symptoms, such as a low grade fever, a trained VHRC staff member performed the COVID-19 swab test," reads the statement. "Department of Health trained VHRC staff on performing the swab."

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The facility ramped up infection protocols earlier this year in preparation for cases and formed a COVID-19 Emergency Operations Team in early March. The facility continues to restrict all visitors, except for urgent medical situations. All staff and allowed visitors are screened upon entry to the community. Clinical staff are wearing surgical face masks, while non-clinical staff wear cloth face masks.

Updates are shared at www.vinsonhall.org/covid-19-updates.