Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

RenVilla – 0 residents and 1 staff tested positive. Conducting outbreak testing.

Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Residents (1^st round of outbreak testing). We are testing MOM/PV Employees Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

Health Department calculations on Friday show 49.8 percent of the state’s adult population has received at least one vaccine dose, with more than one-third completely vaccinated. However, active cases are now at levels not seen since December. Hospitalizations have climbed significantly in the past weeks and are hovering around levels not seen since early January. The age of those newly hospitalized is trending younger than earlier in the pandemic. The majority of people in the hospital now for COVID-19 are younger than 60.

We continue to work on vaccinating our residents and staff. You are a key partner in keeping our care center open for visiting and ending this pandemic. We encourage you to connect with your primary health care provider or use the Vaccine Locator map (Vaccine Locations / COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota (mn.gov)) to find a vaccine appointment near you.

If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can now choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing proper hand-hygiene before and after. Visitors are still required to physically distance from other residents and staff throughout our care center and not socialize in hallways or common areas. Visits are still required to be scheduled in advance. Please contact the below person to schedule your visit:

Visitation Status:

• RenVilla – Closed to general visitation for 1^st round of outbreak testing. Essential caregivers and compassionate care visits continue. Window visits encouraged.
• MOM – Open general visitation. Essential caregiver and compassionate care visits continue. Patio visits encouraged weather pending.
• Prairie View – General visitation scheduled to resume 4/19 pending no changes. Essential caregivers and compassionate care visits continue. Window visits encouraged.

Visitation Contact:

• RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus (320) 329-4374
• Meadows on Main – Deb Wertish (320) 329-4377
• Prairie View – Amy Klawitter (320) 848-2093

Please note that screening is still required of all visitors and employees but you will see changes in how this is performed.  We ask that you please complete the screening at the entrance to our building which will require a temperature check and attestation of 2-3 questions.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

Good Afternoon –

We were notified today that a visitor who was at the RenVilla building on 4/10 and 4/11 has tested positive. We were also notified that an employee who last worked on 04/05 tested positive via yesterday’s surveillance testing. The employee has been in quarantine at home since 4/6 due to a household exposure.

Unfortunately, this means that the RenVilla will need to go into outbreak testing. This also means that all visitation for the RenVilla will need to be postponed for at least one week while we complete the first round of all staff and resident testing.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Weekly. We are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

This week, MDH stated they will follow the CDC guidelines for national and international travel. If an employee is fully vaccinated they do not need to quarantine after travel. They would need a COVID test 3-5 days after return. 

The percentage of Minnesotans who are vaccinated continues to climb. 41.8% of Minnesotans have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 27% of Minnesotans are considered fully vaccinated. Even with the climbing vaccination rates, Minnesota’s state COVID positivity rate is now 6%, rising one percentage point from last week. Hospitalizations also continue to climb and are now the highest since the Pandemic’s peak in January.

One of the best ways you are able to help our community is to get vaccinated. We continue to encourage you to connect with your primary health care provider or use the Vaccine Locator map (Vaccine Locations / COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota (mn.gov)) to find a vaccine appointment near you.

If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can now choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing proper hand-hygiene before and after. Visitors are still required to physically distance from other residents and staff throughout our care center and not socialize in hallways or common areas. Visits are still required to be scheduled in advance. Please contact the below person to schedule your visit:

RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus (320) 329-4374

Meadows on Main – Deb Wertish (320) 329-4377

Prairie View – Amy Klawitter (320) 848-2093

Please note that screening is still required of all visitors and employees but you will see changes in how this is performed.  We ask that you please complete the screening at the entrance to our building which will require a temperature check and attestation of 2-3 questions.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Weekly. We are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

As of this week, 80 percent of seniors have gotten at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine as well as 38 percent of residents aged 50 to 64. More than 1 million Minnesotans are now fully vaccinated and 1.66 million, or 38 percent have gotten at least one shot. On Tuesday, March 30^th, Minnesota expanded vaccine eligibility to all Minnesotans ages 16 and up. Although vaccinations are ramping up, Minnesota’s seven-day rolling average positivity rate has been increasing, and as of the latest data, it is at 5.3%, putting the state in the “caution” status.

We encourage you to do your part in stopping the spread of COVID-19 by connecting with your primary health care provider or using the Vaccine Locator map (Vaccine Locations / COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota (mn.gov)) to find a vaccine appointment near you.  Please continue to wear face masks, social distancing, wash your hands often and get tested if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive or are experiencing COVID symptoms.

If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can now choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing proper hand-hygiene before and after. Visitors are still required to physically distance from other residents and staff throughout our care center and not socialize in hallways or common areas. Visits are still required to be scheduled in advance. Please contact the below person to schedule your visit:

RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus (320) 329-4374

Meadows on Main – Deb Wertish (320) 329-4377

Prairie View – Amy Klawitter (320) 848-2093

Please note that screening is still required of all visitors and employees but you will see changes in how this is performed.  We ask that you please complete the screening at the entrance to our building which will require a temperature check and attestation of 2-3 questions.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

Good Evening –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

• RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 8 weeks.
• Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 12 weeks.
• Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 10 weeks.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Weekly. We are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

We are very excited to share the news that state and federal agencies that previously limited visitation in our setting have now issued guidance on how we can relax visitation restrictions and continue to protect the health of our residents and staff. As a result, we can safely open our doors to visitors. Additionally, those residents who are fully vaccinated will be able to come and go without the need to quarantine upon return and may receive a visitor in their private room.

If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can now choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing proper hand-hygiene before and after. Visitors are still required to physically distance from other residents and staff throughout our care center and not socialize in hallways or common areas. Visits are still required to be scheduled in advance. Please contact the below person to schedule your visit:

• RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus (320) 329-4374
• Meadows on Main – Deb Wertish (320) 329-4377
• Prairie View – Amy Klawitter (320) 848-2093

Please note that screening is still required of all visitors and employees but you will see changes in how this is performed.  We ask that you please complete the screening at the entrance to our building which will require a temperature check and attestation of 2-3 questions.

While visitation is continuing to expand under the federal and state changes, there are still a few distinct exceptions: 

• No indoor visits are allowed for unvaccinated residents if our county positivity rate is >10% or in the “red zone.”
• No indoor visits are allowed for residents with a confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met the criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions.
• No indoor visits are allowed for residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.

We deeply appreciate the sacrifices you made to limit the impact of COVID-19 on our community and your patience as we continue to navigate the altering guidelines imposed by the state and federal agencies. Our entire team looks forward to seeing you again! Family, friends and volunteers are core to what makes our community so special.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

• RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 8 weeks.
• Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 12 weeks.
• Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 10 weeks.

RenVilla continues to test staff weekly. MOM/PV continues to test staff monthly. We will always test an employee or resident/tenant showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19. We are following recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

On Wednesday this week, CMS released new recommendations regarding visitation. This is very exciting, and we are beginning those preparations. However, we have yet to receive guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health on how this will roll out in our buildings. We expect this guidance to be coming out very soon.  Please watch for new guideline changes in next week’s update.

In the meantime, please continue scheduling visitation with the person below. Testing needs will vary between buildings based on current guidance:

• Rhonda Marcus 320.329.4374 (RenVilla)
• Deb Wertish 320.329.4377 (MOM)
• Amy Klawitter 320.848.2093 (PV)

In addition, we do encourage window visits as the weather is getting nicer. These do not need to be prescheduled, but if your loved on will need assistance getting to the window, please call the charge nurse (RenVilla) at 320.329.8381.

Thank you,

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

• RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 7 weeks.
• Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 11 weeks.
• Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 9 weeks.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers weekly, and we are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers monthly. Prescheduled indoor visits are occurring in all buildings. See below for more information. Also, with the beautiful weather we are having, we are encouraging family and friends to come and have window visits (though it is still too chilly for patio visits). These to not need to be prescheduled, but we do ask that people do not drive on the grass as it will leave ruts.

To schedule an indoor visit, please contact:

• RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus at (320) 329-4274 or rmarcus@renvilla.sfhs.org
• MOM – Deb Wertish at (320) 329-4377 or dwertish@renvilla.sfhs.org
• PV – Amy Klawitter at (320) 848-2093 or aklawitter@renvilla.sfhs.org

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

This Saturday, March 6^th, marks one year since Minnesota confirmed its first case of COVID-19. The state has since recorded 485,230 total confirmed or probable cases. Now, more than 52% of Minnesotans 65 and older have received at least one dose of either COVID vaccine. This week, Governor Tim Walz stated Minnesota will expand vaccination eligibility when 70% of that population gets their first dose. Vaccine eligibility would expand to people with high-risk health conditions and targeted essential workers. Younger groups and the general public would follow in the late spring and summer.

Johnson & Johnson has now received an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its COVID-19 vaccine, the Janssen Ad-Vac. The J&J vaccine is different than its Moderna and Pfizer 2-dose vaccine counterparts in two ways. First, the J&J vaccine is a one-shot vaccine, not a two-dose vaccine. Second, the J&J vaccine uses a more common vaccine technology and does not utilize the mRNA vaccine delivery method. The vaccine is published as 85% effective 28 days post vaccination. Side effects listed for this vaccine are similar to those listed for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

Good Morning –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

• RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 6 weeks.
• Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 10 weeks.
• Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 8 weeks.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Weekly. We are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

We continue to receive questions on how and when family and friends will receive their vaccine. Health officials have created a Vaccine Connector tool found at https://vaccineconnector.mn.gov/. This tool helps Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get a COVID-19 vaccine. After you fill out a simple form, the Vaccine Connector will alert you when you are eligible to receive a vaccine, connect you to resources to schedule a vaccine appointment, and notify you if there are vaccine opportunities in your area.

It is not necessary to sign up if: 

• You have already received your COVID-19 vaccine.
• You previously registered for the COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot Program or the COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program. You’re already on the Vaccine Connector list, and there is no need to re-submit your information.  
• You completed the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Child Care survey. You’re already on the Vaccine Connector list, and there is no need to re-submit your information. 
• You completed the Health Care Connection Form, you do not need to re-submit your information. The Minnesota Department of Health will work with health systems and local public health agencies to notify you about when and where you can get vaccinated. 

We look forward to the day we can throw our doors wide open to the community. Until then, there are multiple ways residents in our setting can interact with one another and with their loved ones. We have resumed socially distanced communal dining and small group activities. We are currently able to offer indoor visits, virtual visits, essential caregiver visits, and compassionate care visits. We do ask that visitors are tested prior to entering our care center.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

• RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 6 weeks.
• Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 10 weeks.
• Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 8 weeks.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

Currently, vaccines are being distributed to adults 65 and older, educators, school staff, child care workers, health care workers, and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. We have received many calls requesting information about vaccinations. If you qualify in one of the above categories, please check the state’s online vaccine locations map (https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp) or contact your health care provider about appointment availability. Our staff and residents continue to have opportunities for on-site vaccinations through our pharmacy partnership. Our next clinic dates will be early/mid March.

Minnesota continues to see new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as MN lessons the restrictions in public areas.  The numbers of cases and attributable deaths are declining as vaccinations roll out. State and local health officials continue to stress social distancing, mask use, and frequent hand washing or sanitizing.

With vaccinations becoming more prevalent, and knowledge that vaccinations are providing a positive impact in reduction of active outbreaks; it is frustrating that use of PPE and visitation constraints must continue within our care centers.  Until the CDC and MDH have supporting science to assure the spread of COVID-19 is reduced with vaccinations, we are required to maintain the same infection control protocol.  

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

• RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 5 weeks.
• Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 9 weeks.
• Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 7 weeks.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

MOM, PV, and RenVilla are conducting indoor visits. These visits must be prescheduled. For the safety of our residents and staff we ask that any visitors have a negative COVID test prior to their visit. If you would like to be tested during our routine testing, please reach out to: Deb Vizecky 320.329.4374 (RenVilla), Deb Wertish 320.329.4377 (MOM), Amy Klawitter 320.848.2093 (PV).

Since the start of the pandemic, 3,977 residents of Minnesota’s long term care facilities have died from COVID-19, accounting for 63% of the deaths from the virus statewide. However, last week, Minnesota recorded an average of just 64 new coronavirus cases per day in long-term care settings; the lowest the state has experienced since September! On Tuesday, MDH released more data showing that overall trends are improving, and not just in senior services communities. The state’s positivity rate of testing has fallen to 4%, the lowest rate since June! The rate had peaked at 15.5% in November amid an upsurge in cases.

The drop in new cases is a hopeful sign that the vaccines are starting to provide the protection we need and the infection control protocols put in place are working. Our staff continue to find creative ways to ensure social distancing does not stop social interaction. This week we plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day by various activities per building. Please stay tuned on Facebook to see pictures and updates of events. Please remember with any holiday, we see an increase in virtual visits and indoor visits. Please schedule your visit by Friday with Deb Vizecky 320.329.4374 (RenVilla), Deb Wertish 320.329.4377 (MOM), Amy Klawitter 320.848.2093 (PV).

This week, the Minnesota Association for Geriatrics Inspired Clinicians (MAGIC) launched a new video resource to help providers in our community to address hesitations and misinformation related to the COVID vaccine. MAGIC COVID Vaccination Video was developed to provide accurate and up to date information and dispel myths regarding the vaccine. The goal is to increase vaccination rates, specifically among frontline health care workers, by providing meaningful information from a trusted source that allows them to make an educated decision. Our buildings have all completed the 2^nd vaccination clinic. The 3^rd clinic will be in early March.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you