Coronavirus cluster found at Catholic Care Center after employees test positive

Sedgwick County and the Catholic Care Center on Friday announced that there was a coronavirus cluster at a long-term care facility in Bel Aire.

The cluster was identified after two employees tested positive for COVID-19 in June. Residents were tested and 11 came back positive but they showed no symptoms, according to a joint news release from the center and the county Health Department.

“We are thankful that both associates have made a complete recovery and would like to recognize our team for their strict adherence to the infection control protocols that mitigated the spread of the virus within the community,” the center said in the release. “They truly exemplify our mission of knowing, loving, and serving seniors.”

It is unclear how the employees contracted the virus, the release says. They have since recovered. The residents were re-tested a few days later and the results came back negative.

“The test used is very specific – if the test is positive, it is the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” Sedgwick County spokesperson Kate Flavin said in an email. “If negative, there may not be enough sample or the virus was not in high enough levels right then to detect or other reasons like differences in labs. It is unclear what exactly led to the negative results.”

Sedgwick County has identified nine clusters at long-term care facilities.

Sedgwick County has reported 32 deaths, with 27 coming from long-term care facilities, county manager Tom Stolz said earlier this week. Stolz said the 32 deaths were people over the age of 50.

Stolz also provided a list of deaths at each facility:

• 11 at Clearwater Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
• Seven at Chisholm Place

• Four at Diversicare of Haysville

• Three at The Manor Nursing Home at Park West
• Two at New Life Home Plus

This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 1:27 PM.