Dear Team Members of Spring Valley Senior Living and Health Care Campus (Spring Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center and Valley Villas Assisted Living):
In conjunction with the Pierce County Public Health Department, we will be doing campus-wide COVID-19 testing on Thursday, May 28th, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for all residents, tenants, and staff persons.
Currently, there has NOT been a confirmed case on our campus.
The testing will be completed by a medical corps from the Wisconsin National Guard. The Wisconsin National Guard is well experienced in conducting COVID-19 testing and specimen collection across the entire state which will provide an efficient and safe testing process.
The testing of the residents and tenants will be completed in their own living environments. For staff members, the current plan is for the testing and specimen collection site to be in the former daycare area on the lower concourse level below the River Ridge Neighborhood. Staff should enter the lower concourse area at the east entrance point from either the stairs from River Ridge Neighborhood or the east door (door furthest from flagpole). After being tested, everyone is to exit out the west door (the door closest to the flagpole). This plan could change so please watch for further instructions.
Staff persons not scheduled to work on Thursday, May 28th or who are not scheduled to work during the testing and specimen collection times (ex. 3rd shift overnight staff persons) should immediately contact their Department Director so that arrangements can be made for you to get tested during the testing times.
The State of Wisconsin is moving forward with the plan to test every long-term care facility resident, tenant, and staff member in the state for COVID-19 by the end of May.
COVID-19 cases have been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and multiple U.S. territories, many having wide-spread community transmission. Given the high risk of spread once COVID-19 enters a long-term care facility, facilities must act immediately to protect residents, tenants, families, and staff from serious illness, complications, and death.
Increased testing along with the heightened and continued surveillance is all necessary because growing evidence suggests that persons with COVID-19 become infectious days prior to developing symptoms, and many infected persons develop only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Furthermore, this campus-wide testing is important due to the alarming fact that 40% of the individuals in Wisconsin who lost their lives due to COVID-19 lived in a long-term care facility.
Our goal for doing testing as this time, before we get confirmed case, is for early detection of any cases and then limiting the spread of COVID-19 throughout our campus. Thus, keeping our residents, tenants and staff safe – our first priority, as always.
Again, THANK YOU for making the campus-wide COVID-19 testing a priority and for keeping your residents, tenants, and co-workers safe. Especially, thankful for everyone’s past efforts, dedication, and vigilance in being safe and providing quality care and services.
Peace be with you,
Kevin