The National Guard will come back to Habersham Medical Center’s nursing home at 9 a.m. Monday for a second attempt at testing residents and staff for COVID-19.
National Guard personnel came to Habersham Home on Saturday, May 2, but they were unable to complete the tests.
“Due to logistical issues, we were unable to complete the testing. However, the National Guard will return on Monday, May 11th, 9 a.m. to facilitate the testing of Habersham Home residents and staff,” HMC spokesperson Kesha Clinkscale said in an email.
Clinkscale explained that the National Guard did not dispatch medical staff to complete the testing.
“We did not receive their protocols in advance on how our staff could help facilitate the testing according to the National Guard guidelines,” Clinkscale said.
Habersham County’s COVID-19 cases rose to 382 with 12 deaths as of the latest report by the Department of Public Health on Thursday. Georgia’s total cases were at 31,439 with 1,336 deaths at press time Thursday.
There are 14 Habersham Home employees are quarantining at home due to having presented with COVID-19 symptoms, a positive test result and/or they are living with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus, Clinkscale said. She added that 11 residents have tested positive.
“It is important to note that our COVID-19 positive residents have not developed symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization,” Clinkscale said. “Habersham Home has a COVID-19 isolation area with designated staff to treat and care for our residents who have tested positive.”
Of the 335 individuals tested at the April 26 community event in Cornelia, the total stayed at 67 positive cases, as all of the remaining tests pending this week came out negative. One was inconclusive, but that patient was offered a chance to retest.
For now, HMC has an adequate supply of personal protective equipment for now, Clinkscale said, adding “This is an issue that can drastically change with an influx of patients.”
HMC also is gradually returning staff from furloughed positions back to their posts as more services return, including outpatient and elective surgeries.