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There have been 46 positive cases of COVID-19 at LaGrange Nursing and Rehab, according to a news release from District 4 Public Health.

A total of 46 residents tested positive from testing taking place this past Tuesday by the Georgia Department of Public Health District 4 at the nursing home’s request. The results were received Saturday. Those results revealed 34 residents also tested negative, and five are still pending.

Some residents refused to be tested and will be isolated from known positives, according to the press release.

“We have been working closely with our skilled nursing facilities because we know this is where the highest population of vulnerable people live,” said Dr. Obasanjo, District 4 health director, in the news release.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s long-term care facility report, which breaks down COVID-19 cases in nursing homes around the state, four residents at the facility have died.

The state report shows 12 staff members had tested positive at the facility as of Friday. Hayla Folden, District 4 Public Health Information Officer, said DPH is also working on the logistics to get all staff members tested.

Working with the facility, District 4 Public Health said it would assist with planning for:

• Infection prevention protocols that currently need to be in place.
• Cohorting of patients to prevent further spread within the facility.
• Staff assignments to prevent staff from spreading to residents within the facility.
• Receiving packages to a facility.
• Reducing vendors’ ability to move throughout a facility.
• Limitation of all visitors to protect residents.
• Emergency access to personal protective equipment (PPE).

“Our resident safety is a top priority for us at Lagrange Health & Rehab,” said Regional VP of Operations, Delane Barton; LBSW, LNHA. “We are doing everything we can to ensure we stop the spread of this within our facility, including following the governor’s recommendation of facility-wide testing of residents and encouraging all staff. We are in very close communication with local and state health officials to report testing results, and to ensure we are taking the appropriate steps at this time.”

Barton said the nursing home’s staff and residents are following the recommended preventative actions and will continue to follow guidelines until the virus has been eradicated.

“We are closely monitoring the physical as well as the psychosocial health of each resident,” Barton said. “We encourage family members to continue to interact with their loved ones by using video chat, calling or texting.”

In a statement to the LaGrange Daily News this past Wednesday Barton said visitors have been restricted from entering the facility and all group activities within the building have been canceled.