Employee at another personal care facility in Centre County tests positive for COVID-19
A Wynwood House at State College employee tested positive for the new coronavirus, the personal care community’s owner said Friday.
It is the third confirmed case associated with a nursing or personal care home in Centre County. The Oaks at Pleasant Gap on Tuesday confirmed a resident and staff member each tested positive.
Despite each facility confirming one of their employees tested positive, the state Health Department’s website lists no cases among long-term care facility employees as of 2 p.m. Friday.
The Wynwood House employee worked at the 2350 Bernel Road facility in State College and had “very limited” interaction with residents and staff, owner Vincent Romanini said in a statement.
The employee was last in the facility April 24 and the positive test was received Monday. They abided by all recommended health precautions while at the facility, Romanini said.
“Notification of the positive test was promptly made to all required and responsible parties,” Romanini said. “The safety and well-being of our residents, our employees and our community at large has always been our No. 1 priority and will continue to be moving forward.”
About 66% of the 2,354 Pennsylvanians who died of COVID-19 as of 2 p.m. Friday were nursing or personal care home residents, according to the state’s data.
Nearly 20% of total cases in the Keystone State involve a long-term care resident or employee. Three residents from two long-term care facilities in Centre County have tested positive, according to the DOH.
Besides the one case at the Oaks, it is not known where the other positive tests were reported. Facilities with a case of COVID-19 are not identified in Pennsylvania.
Several states, including neighboring New York and New Jersey, have at least partially identified facilities with outbreaks. Some state and federal officials have even expressed bipartisan support for making such information public.
Health Department spokesman Nate Wardle did not directly say in a statement why the department has not identified facilities.
“We are constantly reviewing and considering what information to release publicly, while also protecting the privacy and confidentiality of Pennsylvanians,” Wardle wrote. “Discussions about data and information that we can provide are ongoing as we work to keep the public and the media informed.”
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 6:56 PM.