A notice was issued by the Platte County Health Department late Tuesday, May 5 that a resident at a long-term care facility in Platte County has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Riverside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was in contact with the Platte County Health Department prior to the diagnosis and the health department commended its management for rapid communication with the health department and proactive response.
The Platte County Health Department is now conducting drive-up testing.
“PCHD takes the health of the residents and staff very seriously, and we are already working closely with the administration of the facility to ensure staff and residents are being tested as fast as possible,” the release states. “We have implemented a testing center and deployed a team of nurses with the help of Riverside’s Office of Emergency Management. We are pleased to report that the testing of staff is already under way.
“As per public health protocol, we will be following up with any positive cases that may result in our investigations. You can continue to find updated COVID-19 information via our website and social media.
“This example of community spread shows why Platte County residents should continue to take steps to protect themselves and others.”
AMENDED ORDER
The Platte County Health Department issued an amended order late last week modifying some of the strictest guidelines issued in its Tuesday, April 28 order.
Additionally, a COVID-19 Response, Reopening and Recovery Plan was released on Monday, May 4. The plan is available in full online at plattecountyhealthdept.com.
“In response to the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, both the State of Missouri and the Platte County Health Department issued stay-at-home orders as a public health mitigation strategy to slow the spread of the virus. On April 27, 2020, Mary Jo Vernon, director of the Platte County Health Department, and the Health Department’s Board of Trustees convened the Platte County COVID-19 Advisory Group. The advisory group consists of industry professionals from the business community, hospitals and healthcare, emergency management, schools, the faith community and the health department.
“The purpose of the advisory group was to make recommendations on how to responsibly lift the stay-at-home orders while continuing to protect the community’s health and safety. Input from the advisory group was taken into consideration in the development of this plan.”
The plan outlines several key points, including the need for continued social distancing until a vaccine or other therapeutic interventions become available, that there will likely be an increase in spread when restrictions are lifted and that should new widespread transmission occur the restrictions may be reinstated.
The Platte County Health Board — an elected body that oversees the health department — issued the amended order late last week.
Significant changes to the order include modified restrictions on mass gatherings. The restrictions are now more consistent with Kansas City’s. Specifically, mass gatherings in indoor environments are limited to 10 people or 10 percent of the facility’s authorized fire or building code occupancy limit, whichever is greater.
In outdoor environments, gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed as long as distancing requirements are met.
Mass gatherings to which these restrictions apply include faith-based and non-faith-based gatherings. Some examples are school graduations, weddings, wakes, funerals, receptions and worship services.
The board lifted the requirement for businesses to collect names and contact information from everyone entering their building. New, softer language in the order says, “When reasonably achievable, event organizers are encouraged to collect names and contact information of persons, including clients, entering a facility. The purpose of this request is to facilitate successful contact tracing of infectious persons.”
A similar request is made of event organizers for the mass gatherings mentioned earlier.
Appropriate use of face coverings was added to the requirements.
“People want to know why events like indoor weddings have stricter limits on them than retail stores seem to have,” deputy director Dan Luebbert said. “The reason is that folks attending weddings spend a longer period of time in close proximity to one another.
“When you head to the grocery store, you’re usually in and out and moving throughout the store. You pass other people in the aisles, but you don’t generally stand next to them for 10 minutes or more. The longer you’re in close proximity to an infectious person, the greater your chances of catching the virus.”