As a reminder, our video updates have moved to a monthly schedule. We will continue to post updates on our Covid page weekly, and if there are changes in your community you can also expect a “one call” voice message to be sent should an update be needed.
Vaccination Imperative
This week marked the start of universal eligibility for all residents of Maryland over the age of 16. Early next week, residents of Pennsylvania and Virginia 16 and older will be eligible for vaccination. We URGE all of you to sign up and be vaccinated as soon as possible. This is not the time to let our guard down, as cases have begun to rise again. Achieving herd immunity will help ensure our team and our residents remain safe.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Paused
We are closely monitoring the status of all vaccination options and in accordance with state guidelines, have put our next vaccination wave on hold. While reports of a blood clot complication have been observed, the CDC is categorizing these as ‘extremely rare’ and we are confident the vaccine will be released for safe use in the coming days. In an interview with ABC News, Dr. Doug Green, the chair of Immunology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital stated, “No association, no actual risk has been found as of yet,” Green explained. “These blood clots are occurring at the frequency that would be expected in the whole population.”
The abundance of caution the FDA and CDC are taking here should be reassuring to the public that our safety and wellbeing is of the utmost importance and we can be confident that after the pause, the vaccine can safely be used. We will communicate when that process will begin again, as it’s extremely important that our newest residents and team members secure the protection of a vaccination as soon as possible.
Covid Status
The following data is current as of 12:00 PM on 4/16/21 unless otherwise noted.
At this time, all IntegraCare communities remain covid-free.
Visitation is currently open at all communities as a result, but we urge you to call ahead to schedule your visit.
Incidence Rates
Positivity Rates By County
Below are the current Positivity/Incidence rates in the regions where our communities exist. As a reminder, the Positivity Rate is the percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that are actually positive, or: (positive tests)/(total tests) x 100%.
The threshold for concern in incidence rates is at or above 5%. Testing rates may increase, and changes in visitation may result as positivity rates rise.
| State | County | Town of ICC Community | Positivity Rate |
| PA | Allegheny | Pittsburgh | 8.4% |
| PA | Bedford | Bedford | 5.3% |
| PA | Blair | Tyrone | 6.6% |
| PA | Butler | Butler | 8.3% |
| PA | Clearfield | Clearfield | 12.9%* |
| PA | Cumberland | Camp Hill | 4.9% |
| PA | Franklin | Chambersburg | 8.4% |
| PA | Lancaster | Lancaster | 9.4% |
| PA | Westmoreland | Greensburg | 9.0% |
| MD | Talbot | Easton | 2.8% |
| MD | Queen Anne’s | Queenstown | 6.4% |
| MD | Anne Arundel | Annapolis | 8.7% |
| VA | Fairfax | Reston | 6.5% |
*Due to the exceptionally high positivity rate in Clearfield County, it is very possible that the state will mandate that visitation ceases in all senior care settings within that county. We will advise families should that occur. We urge families to wear a mask, maintain their distance, get vaccinated as soon as possible and remain vigilant. To reach the other side of this struggle will require everyone’s efforts.
Family Visit Basics
It’s important to be aware that as positivity rates increase again in the local areas, the state may change its policies on visitation and return to a more restricted protocol. We urge all to continue to wear your mask, maintain social distancing, and get vaccinated as soon as you are able to help keep positivity rates down and reduce community spread. We remain vigilant about the number of visitors in each community at the same time and ensuring that our safety protocols remain front & center. Please remember:
- All visitors are screened
- Hand hygiene remains important
- Masks are required as opposed to simple face coverings
- Social distancing remains important and we are not hosting guests in the dining room yet
- Vaccination is paramount to our success and we encourage you to consider if you haven’t done so
Visitation May Be Suspended If…
Indoor visitation is subject to cancellation at a moment’s notice in the interest of health and safety. Suspensions are almost always the result of a covid-positive test result. Visitation will be suspended until they have met the criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions. This is usually the completion of a 14-day quarantine.
A positive covid result may require a temporary suspension of visitation for testing to determine the level of spread within a community. If the case is isolated, visitation will be permitted in areas that are unaffected by the positive case. We urge patience with these rapid changes and with communication that must occur. The safety and well-being of our Residents and Team are the priority during an outbreak.
For more information, please contact your Executive Operations Officer at your community