Author: Tara Micka

The Baker County Health Department has been notified of 10 positive COVID-19 cases connected to Meadowbrook Place Assisted Living Community in Baker City. Staff at Meadowbrook Place, have consulted with County Health Department officials, the state licensing team at Oregon Department of Human Services and inhouse consultants on the situation. Baker County Health Department is supporting the Meadowbrook staff with contact tracing, isolation and notification of individuals who may have been exposed through close contact.

The staff at Meadowbrook have notified residents, families and staff of confirmed positive cases in the community and provided notice of the aggressive efforts that are taking place to help mitigate further spread. None of the residents or staff are currently hospitalized and no deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak as of Friday.

Staff at Meadowbrook have been preparing since early March to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 into the community. Staff have been following best practice guidelines for infection control and prevention as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and following the directives of the regulatory body at the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) in their preparedness efforts.

“The Baker County Health Department has prepared for the possibility of an outbreak in a congregate care setting, and we are working closely with the staff at Meadowbrook to protect the residents and staff. We provided clear guidance for responding to this situation and controlling the spread of illness. This situation is very serious, and in order to protect those in our community who are most vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, the best thing any of us can do is stay home when we’re sick and watch our distance from others.” Baker County Health Department Director Nancy Staten said.

Meadowbrook Place staff initiated blanket Covid-19 testing for all residents and staff, although some results are still pending. At this time, the majority of individuals testing positive are asymptomatic. Residents are self-isolating in their apartments and staff are donning full personal protective equipment at all times. Meadowbrook staff have experience managing illness outbreaks such as flu, and have a heightened awareness of the possible risk to older adults posed by viral illnesses, such as flu, norovirus and Covid-19. “At this time, we are focusing on the safety and well-being of our residents, as we follow the guidance of federal, state, local officials’, says Suzanne Miller, Executive Director. “We are keeping our residents, staff, and family abreast of the latest developments and will continue to do so.

PRESS RELEASE

Baker County has released two new documents that answer recent questions county staff has received about quarantine and isolation. Using a question and answer format, one document provides answers to general commonly asked questions, while a second document gives answers specifically for employers. The new Q&A information is available on the Baker County COVID-19 website, https://www.bakercountycovid19.com.

PRESS RELEASE

The Baker County Health Department will not be able to provide immunizations at school registration this year because of registration changes made in response to COVID-19. Any immunizations students need can be scheduled at the Baker County Health Department. Health Department staff can check vaccine records to find out if a child is due for any vaccines, and provide immunization records that can be provided to the school the child is attending. Parents and guardians are responsible for providing immunization records to the schools their children attend.

The Baker County Health Department is taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and can answer any questions or concerns for bringing a child in. Please call 541-523-8211 for a copy of your child’s record, to confirm if your child needs any immunizations, or to schedule an appointment. The Health Department will be open until 6:30 PM on August 10th and 11th to make scheduling easier.

School exclusion is on February 17th, 2021, and students who do not have their required vaccines will be excluded from school on this date until the student’s information is up-to-date. These laws will not be waived during COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, the Health Department may not be able to provide walk-in appointments on school exclusion day like has been done in the past.