Home ▸ Blog ▸ November 25: COVID-19 Update

Lakewood’s leadership team learned today that a healthcare resident tested positive for COVID-19 on November 25, after presenting with symptoms overnight. Contact tracing revealed that the resident likely became exposed to the virus during an offsite medical appointment.

Through contact tracing and consultation with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Lakewood’s clinical team identified team members who have been in close contact with this resident. None of these team members have any symptoms and will continue to be closely monitored, have increased symptom checks and will follow VDH guidance for continued work.

The resident’s spouse is also a Lakewood resident who lives in independent living. This resident is awaiting COVID-19 test results and is self-quarantining at home for 14 days.

Healthcare residents who live in the neighborhood where the positive case was identified have been placed on isolation out of an abundance of caution. Communal dining, activities and beauty shop services are also suspended for the same neighborhood for the time being. Visitation is temporarily suspended for all healthcare residents. The special Thanksgiving meal for residents in healthcare who have spouses in independent living has been canceled as well as the Taste of the Holidays program.

Routine baseline testing will continue for healthcare team members due to Henrico County’s positivity rate of 6.8%. Due to this most recent positive test, all healthcare residents will also be tested next week in accordance with VDH guidance. No other residents or team members are showing any signs or symptoms of the virus and there are no additional known cases. The Lakewood team will report testing results in the event that any positive cases are identified.

As a side note, Lakewood’s team recently learned that two independent living cottage residents may have been exposed to COVID-19 by a family member who visited them in their home. These residents are awaiting test results and will self-quarantine at home for 14 days.

While independent living residents may travel away from the community to gather with loved ones for the holiday, Lakewood’s team urges residents to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to stay home for Thanksgiving this year and to celebrate only with members of the same household. All residents are also encouraged to wear masks, keep a social distance of at least six feet and use proper hand hygiene. Stay tuned to the COVID-19 Communications Hub for the latest updates.