‘No visitation’ policy to protect elderly residents

Wayne Plaisance, chief executive officer, said the policy is designed to protect the elderly and medically frail residents who are the group potentially in most danger of dying if they contract the virus.
 

“We began planning early, once we had a confirmed case in (the area),” Plaisance said. “We’ve instituted a no-visitation policy. We’re restricting any visitors, family members, volunteers or volunteers groups from coming into our facilities. We don’t know when the restriction will be lifted, but for the time being, we’re trying to prevent anybody coming in from the community that could be infected – and may not know they’re infected – who could spread the virus in the facility.”
 

Plaisance said there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in any of Notre Dame’s three facilities, “nor do we suspect there are any cases in any of our buildings.”
 

In a meeting with assisted living residents at Chateau de Notre Dame on Thursday morning, Plaisance said residents are free to go outside of the facility, but if they do leave, they are being asked when they return to remain in their rooms.
 

“The way we explained it is once they go out into the community, they are more likely to interact with someone who is infected and bring that into the building,” Plaisance said. “I don’t think any of us would want to be the reason why we have nursing home residents who may die as a result of that.”
 

Plaisance said health care workers are screened when they come to work for any symptoms. No one has shown any symptoms thus far.