Hancock County nursing homes lockdown amid coronavirus crisis

            The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 for short, forced care center and assisted living facilities to go into lockdown to protect residents.

            Concord Care Center in Garner, Kanawha Community Nursing Home, and Westview Care Center and the Summit House in Britt all announced restrictions to visitors and non-essential staff in the past week.

            On Thursday, ABCM Corporation released a statement requesting family and friends do not visit their facilities.

            ABCM is the parent company of Conchord Care Center and Westview Care Center as well as other facilities in Clear Lake, Mason City, Belmond and Lake Mills.

            “Out of an abundance of caution, we are limiting all visitors unless absolutely necessary for time sensitive reasons,” the release said. “Because it’s possible to unintentionally spread the virus without being symptomatic, we are locking all entry points and posting signs on our doors to notify all visitors of our policy to actively screen all individuals, including staff, prior to their coming into the building.”

            Those who enter their buildings will be required to have their temperature taken and to wash their hands.

            Those who are deemed necessary to visit a patient are asked to only visit that patient and to avoid hugging or shaking hands with them.

            Anybody experiencing symptoms of illness will be denied from entering ABCM facilities

            ABCM Corporation asks that family of residents provide the most current emergency contact information to their specific facility in case they need to be contacted due to new developments.

            The restrictions will be in place until March 31, in which time ABCM will revisit and determine the course of action moving forward.

            The Summit House in Britt announced restrictions to all non-essential visits on Wednesday.

            Visiting hours have been removed for the time being.

            Family members are asked to contact the building directly if they are interested in alternative communication plans.

            Those who enter the building on essential visits will be screened before entering.

            “This is a fluid topic so you may see future updates as we continue precautionary measures to protect our resident,” a statement on the Summit House Facebook page said.

            The Kanawha Community Nursing Home posted a statement to its Facebook page on Thursday.

            All outside group activities were suspended including church services, community group visits and entertainment.

            Visits from family members must be called in ahead of time and are limited to necessary and urgent visits only.

            “We are electing implement the following protocols in order to best serve our resident population,” the statement said.

            Call, email, Skype and many other forms of communication with a resident is welcome and can be set up with the help of nursing home staff.

            Kanawha Community Nursing Home will re-evaluate as changes to the situation occur.

            Prairie View Apartments in Garner also took precautions in their policies.

            Manager LuAnn Lauters said in a statement that staff has sanitized entryways, hallways and all public areas.

            Sanitizer has been placed in all entryways for the public to use when entering.

            “We are asking families not to visit unless it is necessary,” Lauters said.

            Lauters and the Board of Trustees will be assessing the situation daily and make adjustments when necessary.