Newburgh nursing home announces confirmed coronavirus case

NEWBURGH, Ind. — Signature HealthCARE of Newburgh announced Friday evening that it has confirmation of its first COVID-19 positive case.

The patient is a resident, not an employee, the nursing facility said in a follow-up news release. As a result, Signature has requested COVID-19 testing from local and state health departments for all residents and staff.

The release said Signature has taken a proactive and aggressive approach against the coronavirus. That "preparedness mandated being ready not for 'if' but 'when' our facility faces a confirmed COVID-19 exposure," the release read. "Signature HealthCARE of Newburgh has received confirmation of its first COVID-19 positive case."

Signature HealthCARE is located at 5233 Rosebud Lane in Newburgh.

“We’ve been working around the clock getting ready for COVID-19, and we are ready, now that the day is here,” Signature Chief Operating Officer Chris Cox said in the release. “This is why we hired the experts we have on our team, including a new Chief Infectious Disease Physician. Our intense preparations have paid off, especially in this situation, with staff screening themselves and residents daily, and staff readily identifying anyone who might have the virus early and getting them sent out and tested right away.”

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The facility said they want to assure the residents and families they are "taking every precaution possible and are following the strict guidelines of the CDC and other controlling government agencies which include: screening all stakeholders and residents daily for symptoms of the virus, restricting facility visitation in accordance with federal and state guidelines, and using alternate methods of communication for families, including telehealth, social media, and the mailing of cards and letters."

An Evansville assisted living employee tested positive for coronavirus earlier this week, according to the facility.

According to a news release from Trilogy Health Services, the facility learned an employee at their Evansville location, River Pointe Health, tested positive for COVID-19.

They said the individual has been placed on self-isolation and is receiving the appropriate medical care.

River Pointe is an assisted living facility at 3001 Galaxy Drive.