New nursing home COVID-19 cluster in Wichita has infected 12, killed one
Public health officials have identified a new, deadly outbreak of the coronavirus disease at a local nursing home.
The COVID-19 cluster at the Wichita Center adult care home has infected 12 people, the long-term care facility and the Sedgwick County Health Department announced in a joint news release on Wednesday. The 12 cases include nine residents and three staff members. One of the residents has died.
The facility is at 7101 E. 21st St.
“The Wichita Center has had been fully equipped with PPE since early March, as per the guidelines of the Kansas Department of Health and the CDC,” said Jeff Jacomowitz, a Wichita Center spokesperson.
“Even though we have currently seen a cluster of positive COVID-19 cases and sadly one death at the Center, ongoing facility-wide testing continues. Diligent front door screening of staff also continues and if there are indications of a fever plus noticing of any visual abnormalities, staff are turned away to go home and quarantine for 14 days. The health and safety of our residents and staff are first and foremost our number one priority.”
Wichita Center has a one-star (out of five) overall rating on Medicare.gov Nursing Home Compare website, meaning well below average.
The facility has been cited for problems with infectious disease prevention and control in its last three annual inspections, including issues with hand hygiene, proper disinfection and respiratory care. It has 11 health citations at its last inspection in October 2019.
A hospital spokesman said that in May 2020 the Wichita Center “received a zero deficiency score” in its infection control survey.
Sedgwick County Health Director Adrienne Byrne said in a statement that “COVID-19 is especially dangerous for older adults. The health department is working with nursing home staff to contain further spread of the disease at the facility.
This is the 16th nursing home coronavirus cluster in Sedgwick County since the start of the pandemic.
It marks the second time in a week that a COVID cluster has been announced in the northeast Wichita neighborhood.
Last week, an outbreak was identified at the Legacy on College Hill facility, also on 21st Street about a mile west of the Wichita Center.
That cluster affected six residents and two staff. There were no deaths reported.
Contributing: Chance Swaim of The Eagle
This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 4:50 PM.
