GREEN RIVER — Mission at Castle Rock Rehabilitation Center (MCRRC) Executive Director Bobbi Jo Drozd has confirmed with SweetwaterNOW that there have been confirmed COVID-19 Coronavirus cases within the center.

According to Drozd, the center cannot share how many confirmed or suspected cases MCRRC has, however, she said as to date, “everyone is doing well and are stable.”

Drozd said some of those who tested positive are coming out of isolation as of tomorrow.

“Our Christmas wish is that everyone gets through this safely,” Drozd said.

MCRRC has its COVID-19 unit open, and Dr. David Dansie is the medical director for the center. He is working with the support of Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County to take care of the residents who have tested positive for the virus.

MCRRC CEO Gary Kelso issued a press release Wednesday disclosing that MCRRC is working to limit the spread of COVID-19 within the facility.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to our residents and their family members impacted by this current situation,” Kelso said. “I also want to thank our tremendous staff for their heroic efforts and working round-the-clock to protect our residents and provide the best care possible.”

He said all family members and representatives have been notified of their loved one’s condition.

“We are doing everything we can to limit the spread of COVID-19 within Mission at Castle Rock Rehabilitation Center,” he added.

MCRRC is working closely with local and state health officials, as well as following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to ensure they are taking appropriate precautions and reducing the spread and impact of COVID-19, according to Kelso.

Precautions being taken include:

• Keeping residents in their rooms and cohorting positive or suspected patients to a specific wing.
• Using appropriate PPE at all times for all people in the building.
• Testing all staff and residents in accordance with government requirements.
• Monitoring all residents and staff with frequent symptom checks.
• Targeting the number of different staff going into each resident’s room and increasing efficiency of tasks performed.
• Restricting visitors and group activities.
• Rigorous cleaning of common areas and residents’ rooms.

Kelso said in the press release that they have reinforced to the staff that anyone who presents symptoms must stay home. Public health officials have been called upon to help the center with staffing, testing, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

“We are also calling on members of the public to help us and other long term care facilities,” Kelso said. “Independent research has found that outbreaks in nursing homes are due to high spread in the surrounding community. We need everything to think of our residents as their grandparents in our nursing homes and assisted living communities— by wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, you can help protect our seniors and their caregivers.”