June 23, 2020

By Emily Banyas, Sr. Marketing Communication Specialist

No residents or additional associates have tested positive for COVID-19 in latest batch of tests

John Knox Village has confirmed it has zero additional diagnoses of COVID-19 after receiving test results for the two areas of its continuum that had potential exposures to the virus – its skilled nursing facility and assisted living facility.

John Knox Village initiated the testing for COVID-19 at the Village Care Center and Village Assisted Living after five people who work at the skilled nursing center tested positive for the virus on Saturday, June 13. None of the people who tested positive work with one other, and there does not appear to have been any spread from these individuals to others in the Village Care Center. Most of the associates who have tested positive are now recovered.

One person, who is a non-John Knox Village health care worker, also saw patients at Village Assisted Living the week prior to testing positive.

At the Village Care Center, 240 residents and 287 associates were tested the week of June 14. There were zero additional confirmed positives.

“It was incredibly important to us to be proactive and test everyone to see where we stood, once we saw a few more positive cases show up at the same time,” said Anthony Columbatto, administrator at the Village Care Center. “We have worked very hard on our infection control procedures, and we’re constantly updating and fine-tuning them to keep everyone as safe as we can. It’s gratifying to see that those individuals who tested positive appear to have acquired the virus from outside, and we do not appear to have had any spread within the building.”

Across campus at Village Assisted Living, 41 residents and 39 associates all tested negative as well. The tests were conducted on people who may have come in contact with the non-John Knox Village health care professional the week of June 8.

“Having zero positive test results was the best possible outcome, and I am so proud of the work my team has done,” said Heather Scott, Village Assisted Living administrator. “Every decision we make here is based on what’s best for the residents and how to keep them safe. I know we all lost a lot of sleep while we waited for these results.”

Cumulative Totals from March 16, 2020** to June 22, 2020:

Village Assisted Living
0 Residents and 0 associates have confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses.
0 Residents and 0 associates have recovered from COVID-19.
41 Residents and 39 associates have tested negative for COVID-19.

Village Care Center (Skilled Nursing Facility)
0 Residents and 9* associates have had confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses.
0 Residents and 7 associates have recovered from COVID-19.
240 Residents and 287 associates have tested negative for COVID-19.

*Of these, three individuals who originally tested positive were re-tested and confirmed negative. While they may have been false positives, we are erring on the side of caution and counting them as having recovered.

**The date that the John Knox Village campus was closed to visitors.

At this time, the Village does not have any additional known cases in independent living or other areas of its continuum.

John Knox Village remains in close communication with local, regional, county and state authorities to ensure all the appropriate steps are being taken throughout the continuum of care under the current circumstances.