The V.I. Dept. of Human Services confirmed on Tuesday night that three residents of the Anna’s Hope Group Home on St. Croix have tested positive for Covid-19. "Currently, none of the staff have tested positive, though four results are pending," the department said. D.H.S. said it is working with the V.I. Dept. of Health, Division of Epidemiology to get all residents and staff members tested.
The Anna’s Hope Group Home — a residential facility through D.H.S.'s Division of Children and Family Services — will remain open, D.H.S. said. The facility houses youth who either have D.H.S. as a permanent legal guardian or are temporarily in the department's care.
The department said suspension of visitors has remained in place since March 2020 and prevention methods such as temperature checks and self-attestation surveys for staff entering the facility have been in place since July 2020, according to the release. Residents recently began accessing specialized services off-site, which is currently being revisited. All measures are being taken to resume the safety that Group Home residents and staff enjoyed for more than a year since the pandemic began.
One resident exhibited mild symptoms. The other two positive residents are currently asymptomatic, according to the release. D.H.S. said it was in consultation with D.O.H. and additional staffing and mitigating measures have been implemented.
Employees that may have come into direct contact with the positive and/or who may have occupied a common space during the estimated period of possible contagion, have been advised, quarantined, tested or are awaiting testing conducted by the health department.
Actions being taken:
- The impacted residents are being cared for in quarantine.
- All other residents are being monitored and are able to maintain social distancing as the residents have individual sleeping quarters.
- A notification was sent to all staff advising of the COVID-19 positive results.
- DHS has arranged for testing of staff and residents through the Department of Health.
- The facility has been and will continue to be cleaned and sanitized according to protocol.
- DHS COVID-19 mitigation protocols continue to be emphasized with staff and include, masking of all staff, temperatures being taken before staff can enter the facility, self-attestation regarding potential exposure etc.
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