(Lititz, PA-LititzDailyNews.com) – Brethren Village announced today that two more individuals have tested positive for COVID-19, an administrator and a certified nurse assistant (CNA). On Saturday, it was announced that a resident who was infected with COVID-19 had died.

BRETHREN VILLAGE REPORTS DEATH OF COVID-19+ RESIDENT, MORE INFECTED

This is the second administrator who has tested positive at the campus. The first was announced on April 1st. This newly-diagnosed administrator works in the same department, and has reportedly been self-quarantined at home since April 2.

The Lititz Pike entrance to Brethren Village is barricaded. Photo by Lynn Rebuck/LititzDailyNews.com

LANDIS HOMES RESIDENT WHO CONTRACTED COVID-19 DIES

The CNA is a caregiver in the skilled nursing memory support unit where three residents have already tested positive. One of those residents died on Saturday morning. The CNA has reportedly been at self-quarantined at home since April 1.

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“Symptoms continued to be monitored of both residents and team members to ensure COVID-19 patients receive the best possible care and all necessary precaution are taken to ensure the well-being of our team members and residents,” the statement from Brethren Village says.

GOV. WOLF TELLS ALL PENNSYLVANIANS TO WEAR FABRIC MASKS WHEN LEAVING HOME

Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine today announced that the state Department of Health has signed a contract with ECRI, an independent, nonprofit health services research organization based in suburban Philadelphia, to help with the COVID-19 response across the state, particularly in long-term care facilities, as the pandemic continues. At a press briefing last Friday, Levine referred to them as acting like a “nursing home SWAT team” to assist with combating the virus.

Photo by Lynn Rebuck/LititzDailyNews.com

ECRI will provide individualized infection control and prevention assistance to long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania. Staffers will be available by phone for 12 hours a day on weekdays and will coordinate with the Department Operations Center, currently providing support to those working in coronavirus response. ECRI will also help the department evaluate PPE and research different ways to maximize available resources.

“COVID-19 is a very serious disease and we are seeing a continuous rise in the number of cases and deaths each day,” Secretary of Health Dr. Levine said. “One of our most vulnerable populations in Pennsylvania is those in nursing home facilities. Partnering with ECRI will help us continue to provide the necessary resources to those on the frontline of the COVID-19 response in facilities across the state.”

GOVERNOR URGES MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE VENTILATOR PARTS

“It’s imperative that the state do all that we can to protect all Pennsylvanians, but especially those most vulnerable to COVID-19, and so the Department of Health made the right decision to enlist experts in the field of infection control to help protect those in the state’s long-term care facilities,” Governor Tom Wolf said.

Brethren Village has closed the campus to outside visitors as of 7 p.m. yesterday, Sunday, April 5. Residents and staff will only be allowed, according to a statement on the facility website. Only one family caregiver providing a direct care service or life-sustaining healthcare providers will be permitted to visit.

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Lynn Rebuck is the editor and publisher of award-winning LititzDailyNews.com, the only independent digital news source in Lititz. Lynn is an award-winning photojournalist who was invited to the White House and has received top recognition from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association, National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and has been profiled in Editor & Publisher magazine for her unparalleled dedication to publishing LititzDailyNews.com to benefit the community.