Dear Residents and Families of Birch Bay Retirement Village,

As we continue to screen and monitor our residents and workforce to identify and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the Birch Bay community, Birch Bay has continued to provide bi-weekly asymptomatic testing of our entire staff.

Today we were notified that one of our non-health care staff members has tested positive for COVID-19. We quickly identified that this staff member has not had any close contact with Birch Bay residents. Under guidance of the CDC, this staff member as well as any additional close contacts of this staff member have been asked to quarantine at home.

Effective immediately, CDC has directed Birch Bay to scale back its re-opening plan with two rounds of subsequent COVID-19 universal testing of all our residents and staff. We plan to complete our first round of testing by Monday, and our second round of testing next Monday. The other important change is that under CDC guidance, Birch Bay must temporarily suspend visitation, off campus travel, and group activities. More details will be shared as they become available. I know this is disappointing news for our residents and their families but in an effort to protect the health of our residents, we need to remain vigilant during this challenging time.

Throughout the pandemic, Birch Bay has strived for transparency in everything we do. However, please know that we are bound by federal guidelines under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protect the privacy of our residents and staff. However, we will notify you in the event that we have any concerns about your loved one having suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

It is more important now than ever before that our entire community continue to follow the guidance of the CDC. If you are able to get a vaccination, we encourage you to get vaccinated. Please remember that even after you do get vaccinated we all need to continue to protect ourselves and others by wearing a mask, social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Michael Smith, Director of Health & Resident Services, Birch Bay Retirement Village