Routine Screening Uncovers COVID Outbreak at Skilled Nursing Facility

public information

A CDC computer rendering of SARS-CoV-2

Press release from the County of Humboldt’s Joint Information Center:

Routine testing of staff led to discovery of COVID-19 cases at Granada Rehabilitation & Wellness Center in Eureka. Thirty people in the facility have tested positive, including one staff person and 29 residents.

Skilled nursing facilities and other long-term care facilities are required by the state to test all staff on a weekly basis. A positive result from that routine testing activates a set of responses outlined by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

Following the initial positive result from the most recent round of routine testing, Humboldt County Public Health expanded testing this week to every person in the facility, which has so far turned up 29 additional cases in residents. Experts in infection control from Public Health and CDPH are assisting the facility in containing the outbreak, including on-site support. Public Health will provide ongoing testing of all staff and residents and additional expertise as needed.

Humboldt County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Josh Ennis said this outbreak demonstrates the difficulty in keeping the vulnerable safe from COVID infection once community transmission is so widespread. “We have a level of disease circulating right now that compromises our ability to conserve our hospital beds and ultimately protect the vulnerable,” he said.

“These residents are beloved community members, family of somebody you may know, often with deep roots in Humboldt, and our thoughts are with them right now,” Dr. Ennis said. “It’s time for all of us to step up and connect our everyday actions to life real-life consequences. Mask, distance, wash hands and don’t gather.”

Administrators at Granada are following recommended containment strategies and are working closely with Public Health and CDPH to closely monitor residents’ health.

For the most recent COVID-19 information, visit cdc.gov or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org or during business hours by contacting [email protected] or calling 707-441-5000.

Humboldt County COVID-19 Data Dashboard: humboldtgov.org/dashboard,
Follow us on Facebook: @HumCoCOVID19,
Instagram: @HumCoCOVID19,
Twitter: @HumCoCOVID19, and
Humboldt Health Alert: humboldtgov.org/HumboldtHealthAlert

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38 Comments
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Bobby
Guest
Bobby
3 years ago

Yep told ya

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
3 years ago

So 29 nursing home residents had it but no one was sick enough to suspect there might be a problem?

Jim
Guest
Jim
3 years ago

About time reported on mentioned this a couple days ago.

Sandra Vogel
Guest
3 years ago

This is so sad. Such a tragedy for these elderly people and their families.

Xingu
Guest
Xingu
3 years ago

Quite possibly the result of ONE person who just had to go to a party. ONE person who did not realize they were exposed. One person who is now responsible for the illness and perhaps the deaths of people who can NOT go out to parties and who are innocent victims of someones carelessness.

Blackfoot Nation
Guest
Blackfoot Nation
3 years ago
Reply to  Xingu

Quite possibly many factors.

Hard to find decent help to work in those facilities.

My grandmother had shit stolen from her every place she went.

Good thing she wasn’t too attached to her stuff.

US Marine no fear no filter no fks
Guest
US Marine no fear no filter no fks
3 years ago

That’s because this country, (and I mean this country as in the leadership of this country) could give a flying rats ass about anyone but white rich people. Fuck the old, sick mentally or physically disabled fuck brown people that can not or choose not to feed into capitalisms As evidenced by ya know history? The faster people realize that we are all just protons neutrons and electrons, the faster we can evolve as a species.

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
3 years ago

Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

run&hide
Guest
run&hide
3 years ago
Reply to  Xingu

Run! Run and hide! Wrap yourself in plastic and for the very love of god DO NOT GO OUTSIDE!!!

guest
Guest
guest
3 years ago

Is this outbreak part of the 44 new cases today, the cases yesterday, or is it being counted separately?

NeeSee
Guest
NeeSee
3 years ago
Reply to  guest

They all get counted together

Stats
Guest
Stats
3 years ago

Check out the stats by percapita, under those per capita Myers Flat and Redway have the most cases!!

https://lostcoastoutpost.com/covid-report/2020/dec/3/

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
3 years ago

Come on, Doc. Are you serious with this bs?

“(C)onnect our everyday actions to life real-life consequences.” Life real-life consequences? Is this one of the “thoughts” you say are with the patients? Can you name ONE patient that is benefiting from “thoughts” being with them?

Rob Ash
Guest
Rob Ash
3 years ago

Probably helps them more than the morons indiscrimintely spewing thier filthy Covid slobbering everywhere in the name of “free-dumb”

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Rob Ash

Free-dumb to process and sell unauthorized pot with imported labor?

Lone Ranger
Guest
Lone Ranger
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

You mean organic weed treated with floramite, and who worries about COVID-19 when your smokin every pesticide that has been outlawed in California.

Lost Croat Outburst
Guest
Lost Croat Outburst
3 years ago
Reply to  Lone Ranger

Thanks for the Qanon report. I haven’t injected bleach yet, but I was wondering if you tried the UV lamp rectal insertion? Do you talk in tongues and stuff for, like, a half hour or something? 72 million people voted for Donald Trump. Osama bin Laden would be so proud! Vlad’s Vassal. Putin’s punk.

In The Know
Guest
In The Know
3 years ago

This outbreak was known about as early as Tuesday of this week yet no mention of it to the public was made. Why was Granada covering it up and why wasn’t the County Health Department reporting it. This is one of the single largest outbreaks in the County yet no mention until today.

Fog Dog
Guest
Fog Dog
3 years ago
Reply to  In The Know

Hate to tell you, but public health isnt super quick on the draw with information. They weren’t in the first wave, they aren’t now. They do the best job they can and report data trends that are important for protocols and Healthcare decision making. If you use an eyeball test and you are in the field, you’ll likely see things quicker and a bit differently. They only report when things are 100% fact, backed up by data. They don’t want to be sued for spotlighting an outbreak in a business based on hearsay. Our county has had a glass half-full rosy picture for the public throughout this pandemic and I’d guess it’s likely to continue. Mostly, we are mushrooms. What probably happened was an employee or two cameback positive monday or Tuesday from mandated weekly facility tests, quarantine measures were implemented and additional tests were mandated on staff and residents. It takes time for those to comeback and despite public perception of tests, they are not 100% accurate for a variety of reasons. Once they had a confirmed picture of the situation, they probably were/are working diligently first with the facility to prevent further spread and potentially save lives. Notification of the general public is the last and arguably least important part of their job( in this circumstance). Notification and tracing of employee/ resident contacts likely happened much sooner.

Jim
Guest
Jim
3 years ago
Reply to  In The Know

I was told Granada doesn’t have to release this info to media . The media only picks it up if a death scores. I told them this was very news worthy as at that time 18 were affected so I guess they had a change of heart and finally decided to report on this.

Bobby
Guest
Bobby
3 years ago
Reply to  In The Know

I also thought this was news worthy. I was told on Tues. That only if a death had accured would it probably be reported as Granada doesn’t have to make it public

Rob Ash
Guest
Rob Ash
3 years ago

The sleazebag corporation that runs Granada certainly wouldn’t be above covering up a Covid outbreak . They cut corners in every other way . The owner is rolling in money.

Me
Guest
Me
3 years ago

Uh so it sounds like none of the patients knew or suspected they had covid until their test came back positive ? I’m getting tired of these vague reports.

Were any of these patients showing signs of illness before or after being tested ? What is the severity of the cases?

Bobby
Guest
Bobby
3 years ago
Reply to  Me

I heard about what was going on last week. I called health and human services thing that 17 outbreaks was bad and it was going to get worse I was told Granada doesn’t have to make it public knowledge . Finally it is out there now so people are aware.

Me
Guest
Me
3 years ago
Reply to  Bobby

Non answer.

Kym, what does it mean when the headline states that the infections were “ uncovered “ ? We’re people not aware that they were sick until they were tested or was the facility covering up the illnesses ?

Me
Guest
Me
3 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Ok, thank you .

Lost Croat Outburst
Guest
Lost Croat Outburst
3 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Last I heard, incubation is about 5 days minimum, 7 days typical, and 10 days to be sure. That is, if you even show symptoms. You can still be a “typhoid mary”, no symptoms but a spreader. That’s why daily testing at the W.H. failed so badly. Symptoms don’t happen overnight. So, everybody flies everywhere for T. Giving. max exposure everywhere. 10 days to get sick, a week or so to get better or worse and off to the hospital or morgue in time for Christmas.

Humgirl
Guest
Humgirl
3 years ago

Please be respectful of your comments. My dad is there. Some of these comments are inconsiderate.
Granada is doing a great job. It was a staff member that tested positive from their routine weekly testing that had no idea that they had been exposed and had no symptoms. The employee had been there only one hour before test came back and then sent home. I don’t know the details of how this employee contracted it, however, but I am sure the person feels horrible.
Then the testing for everyone began, and 16 positive tests among the residents came back the day before yesterday (Tuesday). That was Side 2, Side 1 tests came back today and now the cumulative total is 29 residents (and the one employee makes the 30…so 13 residents on Side 1). They are following every protocol to get this under control. First and foremost, It is the business of the people that work there and all of us that are family members of the employees and residents there. There’s not some big plot to keep it secret. It’s called HIPAA, plain and simple, not to mention jumping into action to get this under control being a little more important than letting the general public know. The report is here now, as you’ve read above. Not trying to hide anything, but hoping people will respect those that are worried about their loved ones.
Also, as far as I know so far, most of the residents with symptoms have been mild. That’s not to say they may or may not get worse. The facility is keeping in touch with us often to keep us informed. Please, for those reading this that believe in something bigger than ourselves, a prayer, a thought, a candle lit, or a vision of light surrounding the facility and all of us family members and friends, that would be appreciated. Thank you!
And yes, I think my father benefits from my thoughts being with him. So there’s your one named, Mr. “HOJ in training.”

Fog Dog
Guest
Fog Dog
3 years ago
Reply to  Humgirl

Best wishes to your family and everyone involved.🙏

TrumpLost2020
Guest
TrumpLost2020
3 years ago
Reply to  Humgirl

Thanks for the information, and I hope your dad and the other patients there make it through this!

And hopefully your explanation about HIPPA/PHI will help folks understand why the information was kept private.

Blackfoot Nation
Guest
Blackfoot Nation
3 years ago
Reply to  Humgirl

Positive with noticeable sickness or just a PCR positive. It means more that people are not dealing with feeling ill, but maybe just one of those positives that have no negative side effects.

Renaissance1
Guest
Renaissance1
3 years ago
Reply to  Humgirl

Thank you for your comments.

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
3 years ago
Reply to  Humgirl

Sorry, Humgirl, all you did was demonstrate that the thoughts make YOU feel better and don’t do anything for the patient. Talking about believing in something greater…

Here’s a reality check for you, how does he feel about you leaving him in a care facility knowing that the people MOST at risk of catching covid live in care facilities? And, of all places, Granada? That place has had a bad rep for decades! When I was living in Arcata back in 2000, I would go to the plaza to score meth from the “plazoids.” I would drive them to their supplier in Eureka. Guess what? The supplier was a nurse at Granada!! Good call on leaving daddy there to die. Nevermind that, instead I say SHAME ON YOU! But, hey, as long as YOU think your thoughts benefit him, that’s all that matters….

Me
Guest
Me
3 years ago

Ok guy who scores meth from nurses, you’re the real hero

Humgirl
Guest
Humgirl
3 years ago

Shame on me? Wow! Do you realize how mean and inconsiderate your comment is here? Shame on you! This is despicable. Are you ever kind? Or do you just hide behind a computer and spew out horrible things to people you don’t even know, or their situations?
You did however disclose that you scored meth from people on the plaza, so…not even sure I should be offended here, but because I’m a human with feelings and am scared to death about the situation at Granada, I am hurt by your comment. How can you be so cruel? You’re berating me that my dad is at Granada?!?!

Martin
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Humgirl

Humgirl, you might consider moving your father to a Timber Ridge unit. They have three, one in Eureka, one in McKinleyville, and one in Ukiah. There has not been one Covid case in any of them. I wish nothing but the very best for your father, and hope he will be fine real soon.

Humgirl
Guest
Humgirl
3 years ago
Reply to  Martin

Thank you for your consideration, truly. I think you mean well. However, Granada was also without a Covid case until last week when we went into high community spread. I pray that Timber Ridge is spared, but no facility is immune at this point.
The county and the staff at Granada are working hard to do everything that is required at this point. Only one point of entry for those working with the isolated side at the facility. And those working the positive cases side are the only ones allowed on that side and do not go on the side where the negative-tested residents are.