Two dead, 15 test positive for COVID-19 at Wichita nursing home

Two people died and 15 have tested positive for COVID-19 in a coronavirus cluster at a Wichita nursing home, Sedgwick County announced Tuesday.

Avita Assisted Living and Memory Care at Rolling Hills, south of Maple on Maize Road, is the latest long-term care facility in Sedgwick County to develop a cluster, meaning two or more COVID-19 cases tied to a certain time and place.

The novel coronavirus is rapidly spreading in the Wichita area, and 36 deaths in Sedgwick County are tied to the COVID-19 disease, according to the Sedgwick County COVID-19 dashboard.

Four residents at the long-term care facility have tested positive, according to a joint statement released by Avita and the county’s health department.

At Avita, 11 of the cases were staff members at the facility. Nine of those workers had no symptoms of the disease, but tested positive. All staff members will quarantine for at least two weeks or until they test negative, said Vicky Gooch, executive director of Avita, in the statement.

“These limitations have been difficult for everyone involved,” Gooch said. “Staff is ensuring that while in-person visits are not allowed, residents can still connect with loved ones through scheduled window visits, phone calls, text chat, or video communication.”

County Health Director Adrienne Byrne said in the joint-statement that the health department is working with the facility to contain further spread of the virus.

This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 12:19 PM.