July 1, 2020
Dear Canterbury Residents, Employees, Family Members, Trustees, and Community Partners,
On June 26th and June 29th, we partnered with CORE Response to provide free COVID testing at our community. We have begun receiving results of those tests, though many of the results are still outstanding. Of the results we have received, we have identified 4 additional employees that have tested positive for COVID-19. At this time, we have a total of 8 positive employees, all within our dining department. These employees are quarantined per our policy and we are implementing our COVID protocols for contact tracing and quarantining. We will send a second notification once we receive the remaining test results.
We know from the research that currently exists that the primary source of virus transmission is person-to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks within 6 feet of another individual. The CDC recommends contact tracing to identify anyone that the infected person has been in close contact with so that they may be notified of their potential exposure and monitor for symptoms. The CDC defines close contact as anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours prior to when the person began feeling sick. The CDC also advises that wearing a mask is the best source to prevent transmission of the disease to others.
Per the CDC’s website, currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. Before preparing or eating food, it is always important to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds for general food safety.
Because of the large number of infections within our dining department, plans to reopen the dining room will be postponed until we have no positive cases.
All employees are required to wear masks while in the community and around other individuals. Residents should wear a mask anytime they leave their apartment as well as in the gardens if they are within 6 feet of another individual. Visitors to the gardens must wear masks during their visit. We have been working to begin to allow limited visitation within the building. Once we have the remaining test results, we will communicate our plans for when that will begin.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach me at 470.381.6790 or debimcneil@nullcanterburyccrc.org or Julie Parker, Chief Operating Officer, at 404.201.7067 or julieparker@nullcanterburyccrc.org.
Warmly,
Debi McNeil
President & CEO