Chautauqua Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has received three deficiency-free infection control surveys from the department of health.

Since a COVID-19 outbreak at the beginning of the year, the Chautauqua Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has done its best to recover and adapt.

The coronavirus infected dozens of residents within the facility and around 70% of the staff. But in the months since, and since the pandemic began, the CNRC has taken as many steps as possible to ensure safety for residents and staff.

“Since March of 2020, our team has faced unprecedented hurdles to which they have responded with ingenuity, determination and selflessness,” said Dawn Harsch, spokeswoman for VestraCare and the Chautauqua Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. “For more than a year, we have worked hand-in-hand with the department of health to incorporate aggressive infection control measures, screening practices, PPE use, vaccination administration and advanced cleaning protocols.”

To prevent a similar outbreak, the staff at CNRC is adapting to new protocols put out by the local heath department, and continues to keep invested parties updated on new changes.

“CNRC has received three deficiency-free infection control surveys from the department of health and continues to integrate new educational components as they evolve,” Harsch said. “Our team is reviewing the updated guidelines from the department of health and will be implementing the changes accordingly. As always, we will continue to communicate with our residents’ responsible parties

CNRC is currently open for visitation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make an appointment, contact Angie at 366-6400 or email familyvisitation@ctnrc.com with a name, phone number and loved one’s name. COVID testing will be done on-site.

COUNTY CROSSES 40K VACCINATIONS

According to the state’s vaccine tracker, 40,766 Chautauqua County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. That represents about 31.9% of the entire population, including children who are not yet able to be vaccinated. Those who have completed their vaccination series rose to 21,707.

Meanwhile, the county Health Department on Thursday reported 26 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. To date there have been 8,261 cases, 7,976 recoveries and 142 virus-related deaths.

There are currently 143 active cases, five people with the virus in the hospital, 483 in quarantine and a seven-day positivity rate of 1.3%.