Both are asymptomatic and are isolating at home. Both employees will not return to work until they have two negative COVID-19 tests, taken 24 hours apart. Macon Valley Nursing Home has been following the highest levels of Personal Protective Equipment standards while in their facility and especially when working with patients. At this time, no patient in any Macon County nursing home or long-term care facility has tested positive for COVID-19.

All the residents and staff of Macon Valley Nursing Home are being tested for COVID-19 at the direction MCPH’s Medical Director and Macon Valley’s leadership team, and plans are in place to isolate any residents, should there be a positive result. Macon Valley Nursing Home and Macon County Public Health have been working together and have verified that Macon Valley has all the necessary PPE, sanitizing, and monitoring supplies and guidance they need to assure that any spread is minimal.

In addition to Macon Valley staff and patients, MCPH is working to identify any additional close contacts of these individuals. The CDC defines close contact as being within approximately 6 feet of a person with an infection with COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time of 10 minutes or longer. Based on information provided by the individual, county health officials will assess risks of exposure, determine which if any additional measures are needed such as temperature and symptom checks, quarantine and/or testing.