NEW ORLEANS — Three residents of Lambeth House, a retirement center in New Orleans, have been diagnosed with presumptive positive cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.
These are three of the 13 cases currently diagnosed in Louisiana.
According to a spokesperson for Lambeth House, an 84-year-old resident was taken to a local hospital on Friday for pneumonia-type symptoms and was tested for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.
They have been diagnosed with a presumptive positive and their tests have been sent to the CDC for confirmation.
Gov. John Bel Edwards announced two more cases at the senior living facility during his press conference Wednesday night.
The elderly are considered the most at risk population when it comes to the coronavirus. People over the age of 65 have a higher fatality rate from COVID-19 than any other group.
According to the statement from a Lambeth House spokesperson, the following measures have been taken to prevent further spread inside the retirement community.
- Restricted interaction between the center’s assisted living and independent living residents
- Cancellation of all off-site social activities and scheduled on-site social events
- Prohibition of any non-essential visitors to the center
- Closure of the center’s café
- Closure of the center’s wellness center
- Sitters and domestic housekeeper assistants from off-site are also prohibited from accessing the center
To protect elderly communities, the Louisiana Nursing Home Association ask people not to visit their loved ones at any of the 250 nursing facilities in the state.
During a New Orleans City Council meeting Tuesday, LNHA officials said they need to do all they can to keeping the illness out of nursing homes, and were in the process of getting supplies like face masks for employees working with the elderly.
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