COVID-19 UPDATES:

“The health of our residents and staff is always our top priority.  Please know that we are following all of the latest protocols, as directed by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC, in order to protect our staff and residents. We will continue to keep you updated on a weekly basis or as needed.” — Gil Fonger, President & CEO, Marklund.

 

Effective April 25, 2023

Marklund Day School (MDS) Geneva

Two employees who work in the same classroom at the Foglia Education Center (FEC) of Marklund Day School-Geneva tested positive Monday morning after symptom onset.  Since symptoms started early morning for both, this does not impact the classroom.

Effective April 15, 2023

Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva

Two direct care staff members had positive test results after developing mild symptoms: one last night (agency), and one today. The Outbreak Status for MRH has been extended to April 29.

Marklund Day School (MDS), Geneva

An employee at the Foglia Education Center (FEC) of Marklund Day School-Geneva, tested positive this morning after symptom onset. Contact tracing and notifications for staff and students are occurring. This case has no impact on the Geneva campus residences.

Effective April 14, 2023

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva

A direct care staff member at the Tommy Home tested positive this morning after experiencing symptoms.  This person’s last shift was yesterday’s PM shift, so the Outbreak Status for MTH is extended to April 28.

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva

A MSH resident tested positive this morning during outbreak testing and is currently asymptomatic.  This moves the Outbreak Status for MSH to April 29.

Effective April 12, 2023

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH) and Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva

A direct care staff member at MSH tested positive yesterday after symptom onset. This person had worked the prior night at MTH.
This extends the Outbreak Status at MSH to April 26. MTH stays at April 25.

Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva

A resident of MRH tested positive last night after exhibiting symptoms. This extends the Outbreak Status to April 26.

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva

Two additional members of support services tested positive yesterday and today during exposure testing and both are currently asymptomatic. Contract tracing determined no additional close contacts.

Effective April 10, 2023

Marklund Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva

There are four new positives in the Dreher Home: One resident developed symptoms last night, while two other residents and a staff member were found to be positive this morning during exposure testing. These three are asymptomatic. The Outbreak Status date for MDH is extended to April 25.

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva

Two residents tested positive during exposure testing. They are asymptomatic. An asymptomatic staff member also tested positive (this is the same person who also worked at MDH). The Outbreak Status at MTH is moved to April 25.

Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva

Two staff members (one agency) tested positive today after developing symptoms. This also puts MRH into Outbreak Status to April 25.

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva

Two staff, 1 community client: 1) A member of support services tested positive today after developing symptoms. Contact tracing and exposure testing is being conducted. 2) A direct care staff member who works out of MHC tested positive today but has not been onsite since last Wednesday. 3) We were also informed that a community client who attends our CDS program tested positive last Thursday but had not been onsite since last Monday.

Effective April 9, 2023

• Staff and Resident cases on Geneva campus

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva

A resident and two staff members in the Sayers Home tested positive Saturday after developing symptoms. The Outbreak Status date for MSH is extended to April 23.

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva

An agency staff member at the Marklund Tommy Home exhibited symptoms this morning and tested positive today prior to working a shift. This person last worked Friday. The Outbreak Status at MTH will remain at April 22.

Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva

A resident at MHH tested positive today after exhibiting symptoms. This will extend the Outbreak Status for MHH to April 24.

Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva

Five residents at MRH tested positive today, one with symptoms and four asymptomatic. This puts MRH into Outbreak Status to April 24.

Effective April 7, 2023

• Cases continue on Geneva campus

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva

A staff member at the Marklund Tommy Home tested positive today after exhibiting symptoms. This will put MTH into Outbreak Status to April 22.

Marklund Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva

A resident at MDH tested positive today after developing symptoms. The Outbreak Status date for MDH is extended to April 22.

Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva

A resident and a staff member at MHH tested positive yesterday afternoon after exposure testing. The resident is asymptomatic, while the staff member has symptoms. The Outbreak Status for MHH stays at April 21.

Marklund Hyde Center, Geneva

A direct care employee who works out of the Hyde Center tested positive today after symptom onset. Contact tracing/testing is being completed.

Effective April 6 , 2023

• New resident cases on Geneva campus

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva

Two Sayers Home residents tested positive today after exhibiting some symptoms. This moves MSH into Outbreak Status to April 21.

Marklund Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva

A resident at MDH tested positive today during exposure testing, and is currently asymptomatic. The Outbreak Status date for MDH will be extended to April 21.

Effective April 5 , 2023

• Additional COVID Cases on Geneva campus

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva:

A direct care staff member who works at MHC tested positive this morning after developing symptoms. Contract tracing and exposure testing has begun. This does not affect any of the facilities.

Marklund Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva

An agency direct care staff member tested positive this morning via homebased test after experiencing symptoms. This person worked the p.m. shift at MDH Monday/Tuesday.  The Outbreak date will remain at April 19.

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva

A MTH resident tested positive today during exposure testing and is currently asymptomatic. All other residents at MTH have tested negative. This is considered a facility-onset case but since it is a single case, it does not put the home on outbreak at this time.

Effective April 4 , 2023

• New Cases on Geneva campus

Marklund Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva

Three residents of the Dreher Home tested positive this morning:
One is symptomatic, and the other two are asymptomatic but tested positive during exposure testing.
In addition, an agency direct care staff member who worked the evening shift yesterday tested positive this morning after symptom

Effective April 3, 2023

Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva

A direct care employee from the Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH) tested positive this morning after symptom onset.  This person last worked on Friday, March 31, so this is not considered a facility-based case and does not put MHH into outbreak.  Contact tracing for this morning and notification has been completed.

Marklund VanDerMolen Home (MVH), Geneva

A direct care employee from the Marklund VanDerMolen Home (MVH) on our Geneva campus also tested positive today after symptom onset.  This person last worked on Friday p.m. shift, so this is not a facility-based case and does not put MVH into outbreak.

Effective March 31, 2023

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A direct care employee at MWC tested positive this morning after symptom onset.
This person worked onsite yesterday, so this extends MWC’s Outbreak Status to April 14.

Effective March 29, 2023

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A direct care employee who last worked on Saturday, March 25, tested positive Monday after community exposure and symptom onset. MWC’s Outbreak Status date remains at April 9.

Effective March 26, 2023

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A resident at MWC tested positive during outbreak testing yesterday. This person is currently asymptomatic.

However, this case extends the Outbreak Status at MWC to April 9.

Effective March 24, 2023

• Positive Cases in Geneva

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC) and Marklund Day School (MDS), Geneva

One administrative staff member at MHC and a school employee at the Foglia Education Center (FEC) of MDS-Geneva, tested positive this morning after symptom onset.
Contact tracing and notifications of potential exposure has been completed for both.

Effective March 21, 2023

• New Positives in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A resident tested positive last night after onset of mild symptoms.
In addition, a direct care staff member tested positive this morning after developing symptoms last night.
This extends the Outbreak Status for MWC to April 4.

Effective March 19, 2023

• Staff & Resident Cases at MWC

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin
Four new COVID positive cases were reported at MWC.
Two staff tested positive yesterday and two residents did this morning, all after developing minor symptoms.
This extends the Outbreak Status for MWC to April 3.

Effective March 18, 2023

• Resident Positive at MWC

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A resident at MWC tested positive yesterday after symptom onset.
This will reset MWC’s Outbreak Status to April 1.

Effective March 16, 2023

• Resident & Staff Cases at MWC

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin
Three residents and three employees at MWC have tested positive for COVID.

1 – Resident: positive test last night after exhibiting symptoms
2 – Resident: asymptomatic, discovered during outbreak testing
3 – Resident: positive result today after developing symptoms
4, 5, 6 – Staff members (direct care): positive tests today after symptom onset

This adjusts MWC’s Outbreak Status to March 31.

Please note: MWC Administration has implemented stricter mitigation methods during this prolonged outbreak in order to curtail COVID transmission in the facility.

Effective March 15, 2023

• 3 New COVID Cases

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin
One direct care employee and two residents at MWC have tested positive. The employee’s case was discovered today during outbreak testing—the individual is currently asymptomatic. The residents developed symptoms last night and this morning, and are both doing well at this time.
This resets MWC’s Outbreak Status to March 30.

Effective March 13, 2023

• New COVID Cases in Bloomingdale, Elgin

Marklund Day School (MDS), Bloomingdale

An employee in the Ann Haskins Center of MDS-Bloomindale tested positive today after developing symptoms. This person did not work during the infectious period, so there were no student or resident exposures.

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

An administrative employee at MWC tested positive today after developing symptoms over the weekend. This resets MWC’s Outbreak Status to March 28.

Marklund Day School (MDS), Elgin

An employee in the MDS-Elgin classroom located within MWC tested positive today during exposure testing. This individual is currently asymptomatic and only works in the MDS classroom, so while this is an exposure for the students in the room, it doesn’t further affect MWC’s outbreak date.

Effective March 12, 2023

• 3 Additional Cases

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A MWC resident and a direct care employee tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms.
MWC’s Outbreak Status has been extended to March 26.

Marklund Day School (MDS), Elgin

An employee in the MDS-Elgin classroom located within MWC tested positive today after developing symptoms. This will not change the Outbreak Status date at MWC.

Effective March 10, 2023

• 2 positive cases in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin
A MWC resident as well as an agency direct care employee tested positive yesterday afternoon during outbreak testing. They are both currently asymptomatic.
This will extend MWC’s Outbreak Status to March 24.

Effective March 8. 2023

• New cases in Geneva and Elgin

Marklund Day School (MDS), Geneva

An employee at the Foglia Education Center (FEC) of MDS-Geneva tested positive last night  after symptom onset. Contact tracing determined that this case does not affect the residential facilities.  School administration notified any MDS staff/student families of potential exposure.

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A direct care employee tested positive this morning after developing symptoms. This person last worked on March 3, so was not in the facility during the infectious period. MWCs Outbreak Status will remain at March 22.

Effective March 7, 2023

• New positive cases in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

Two direct care staff tested positive today. One is asymptomatic and tested positive during outbreak testing. The second showed positive after developing symptoms. MWC’s Outbreak Status has been extended to March 22.

Effective March 6, 2023

• 3 Additional COVID cases in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

Two direct care employees as well as a resident tested positive at MWC — two yesterday, and one today — after developing symptoms.

This extends the Outbreak Status at MWC to March 21.

Effective March 3, 2023

• New positives in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

Two direct care staff members tested positive at MWC, one yesterday afternoon during outbreak testing, and one today after developing symptoms.

These will extend Outbreak Status at MWC to March 18.

Effective March 2, 2023

• Resident case in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A MWC resident tested positive today after developing symptoms.

This will extend the Outbreak Status at MWC to March 17.

Effective Feb. 25, 2023

• New case in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A direct care employee tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms on Thursday.  This will move MWC’s Outbreak Status up one day to March 11.

Effective Feb. 23, 2023

• Positive cases in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

Three employees tested positive at MWC: one agency staff yesterday after developing symptoms, and two today (one support staff and one direct care) during outbreak testing. MWC is now on Outbreak status to March 10.

Effective Feb. 20, 2023

• Positive case in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A member of the support staff at MWC tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms. Contact tracing was completed yesterday. This is considered a facility-associated case and will not put MWC into outbreak unless additional cases develop.

Effective Feb. 18, 2023

• COVID case in Bloomingdale

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale

A direct care employee at MPC tested positive yesterday after outbreak testing. This person is currently asymptomatic and had been onsite during the 48-hour pre-infectious period.  Facility-wide testing was completed yesterday.
This moves MPC’s outbreak date to 3/4/23.

Effective Feb. 16, 2023

• New Positives in Bloomingdale

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale

An MPC resident and a direct care employee tested positive today after developing symptoms. These are considered a facility-onset cases and moves the Outbreak date for MPC to March 3.

Effective Feb. 15, 2023

• Additional Cases in Bloomingdale and Geneva

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale

An MPC resident tested positive yesterday during exposure testing. Being the second resident to become positive this week, this is considered a facility-onset case and does put MPC into outbreak until Feb 28.

Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva, and Marklund Day School in Geneva and Bloomingdale

A direct care staff who recently worked at MHH, as well as in the Ann Haskins Center of MDS-Bloomingdale and the Foglia Education Center at MDS-Geneva tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms. This is considered a facility-associated case but as an individual occurrence, does not put the sites into Outbreak.

Effective Feb. 13, 2023

• New Cases in Bloomingdale and Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A direct care employee tested positive Saturday via rapid test after symptom onset on Friday. This individual did work during the 48-hour infectious period so, according to updated clarification from IDPH, this is considered a facility-associated case, but not yet an outbreak, since it is a single case. MWC management completed contact tracing and implemented testing for residents and employees who were exposed.

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale

An MPC resident tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms. This is considered facility-associated case but not an outbreak at this time. MPC management completed contact tracing and is testing any exposed residents and staff per exposure guidelines.

Effective Feb. 6, 2023

• New Cases at Day School and Geneva

Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva

An employee who works at multiple sites tested positive Saturday after developing symptoms. This person did work at MRH on Friday so this puts the home into Outbreak to Feb. 10. The employee also spent time at both day schools as well as in Community Day Services (CDS) classroom at the Hyde Center.
Management has completed contact tracing and has informed necessary staff of potential exposure.

Marklund Day School (MDS), Bloomingdale and Geneva

A school employee in a Multi-Needs classroom at the Ann Haskins Center of Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms.  A student from the same classroom tested positive today.
Two school employees in a Life Skills classroom at the Foglia Education Center of Marklund Day School-Geneva as well as two students tested positive today after developing symptoms.
Administration is contact tracing and notifying staff and families.

Effective Feb. 2, 2023

• New Cases in Geneva, Bloomingdale

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH) & Sayers Home (MSH), GenevaA direct care employee and two MTH residents tested positive during outbreak testing. All are currently asymptomatic and all other residents at MTH have tested negative so far. The staff member last worked in MTH yesterday and did a Monday overnight shift at MTH and MSH.
This puts both homes in Outbreak Status to Feb. 6.

Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale (MDS)A school employee in a Multi-Needs classroom at the Ann Haskins Center of Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale tested positive today after developing symptoms.  School administration will contact trace and notify employees and parents of exposure.

 

Effective Jan. 30, 2023

• New cases in Bloomingdale, Geneva

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale
An MPC resident tested positive this morning after fever onset.  All residents and applicable staff will be tested today. This puts MPC into Outbreak Status to Feb. 3.

Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale (MDS)
A 1-on-1 nurse in an Multi-Needs classroom tested positive yesterday after symptom onset. This person, who is provided by the student’s home district, worked in the classroom last Friday, Jan. 27. MDS administration has notified any potential staff of exposures as well as informed parents of students.

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva
A direct care staff member working in the Community Day Services (CDS) area at MHC tested positive this morning after exposure last week and onset of minor symptoms this weekend.  Staff and clients were already undergoing exposure testing in the classroom; management notified other potentially exposed staff.
This does not affect the homes, as the employee did not work with any residential clients.

Effective Jan. 29, 2023

• Positive resident in Geneva

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva
An MTH resident tested positive yesterday after mild symptom onset. All other residents tested negative yesterday, as well as the staff who were working. Staff testing will continue. This moves the Outbreak Status for MTH to Feb. 1.

Effective Jan. 24, 2023

• Positive resident in Geneva

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva
A resident at the Tommy Home tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms. All other MTH residents and staff were tested today with no additional positives found.
With this case, MTH is put on Outbreak Status through Jan. 28.

Effective Jan. 24, 2023

• Positive resident in Geneva

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva

A resident at the Tommy Home tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms. All other MTH residents and staff were tested today with no additional positives found.
With this case, MTH is put on Outbreak Status through Jan. 28.

Effective Jan. 20, 2023

• Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva campus

A direct care employee tested positive this morning during community exposure testing.  After contact tracing, it was determined that this person had close contact with two residents and two staff members, who will also do exposure testing following this contact.
No homes are affected or put in Outbreak, as this occurred in the Community Day Services (CDS) area.

Effective Jan. 18, 2023

• Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva campus

A direct care employee tested positive yesterday after symptom onset Monday night. This person last worked the overnight shift at MHH on Sunday night, Jan. 15. All MHH residents and applicable staff who were tested today had negative results so far.
This puts MHH in Outbreak to Jan. 21.

Effective Jan. 16, 2023

• 2 Positive Cases Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale:

A resident tested positive for COVID Friday, Jan. 13, after developing symptoms, and a direct care staff member had a positive test result today after developing symptoms yesterday, Jan. 15.
This moves MPC’s Outbreak Status to Jan. 28, 2023.

Effective Jan. 13, 2023

• Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale:

An additional staff member at MPC tested positive today.  This person is currently asymptomatic and last worked yesterday.

This will reset MPC’s Outbreak Status to 1/27/2023.

Effective Jan. 12, 2023

• New positives in Geneva

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale:
Two residents and a staff member tested positive yesterday. Both residents developed symptoms, while the staff member is currently asymptomatic but had positive results during outbreak testing. This moves MPC into Outbreak Status to Jan. 26.

Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva:
A MHH resident, who is currently asymptomatic, tested positive this morning during outbreak testing. This extends the Outbreak status for MHH to Jan. 16.

Effective Jan. 11, 2023

• New positives in Geneva

Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva:
A direct care employee tested positive yesterday via her second rapid after symptom onset last Sunday.  This person last worked Saturday, and since we began MHH testing on Sunday, the first two rounds still would cover anyone that was exposed. We are still on track for being out of Outbreak Jan. 12, as long as the final round is clear.

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva:
An agency staff tested positive late Monday after symptom onset.  This person last worked at MTH on Thursday, Jan 5, but this was not within the 48-hour pre-infectious period, so this is not a facility based case and does not put MTH in Outbreak.

Effective Jan. 9, 2023

• Positive cases in Bloomingdale, Geneva & Elgin

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale:
Three MPC residents tested positive this morning after developing symptoms.  MPC is doing broad-based testing (every 3-7 days until no new positives are discovered for 14 days) so the current outbreak date is 1/24/23.

Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva:
A direct care employee tested positive yesterday after symptom onset. This puts MHH into outbreak to Jan. 12 at the earliest. So far, no residents or additional staff have tested positive at that home.

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:
An MWC employee, tested positive via rapid on Jan. 4, and received a confirmed positive via PCR today.  This person did not work during the 48-hour pre-infectious period, so this is not a facility-based case and MWC is not in outbreak.

Effective Jan. 6, 2023

• Positive cases in Geneva

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva:
A direct care employee tested positive this afternoon after symptom onset. This person worked in MSH last night so this will put that home into Outbreak until Jan. 10, at the earliest, if the first round of testing is completed today without additional positives found.

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva:
An administration employee at MHC tested positive today via homebased test after symptom onset. This staff member has not been on-site since Dec. 26, so this is not a facility-based case and does not put MHC into outbreak.

Effective Jan. 3, 2023

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale:

An administration employee at MPC tested positive via homebased test after symptom onset Sunday, Jan. 1. This staff member has not been on-site since Thursday so this is not a facility-based case and does not put MPC into outbreak.

Effective Dec. 30, 2022

• Positive case in Bloomingdale

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale:
An Agency staff member at MPC had a positive PCR result last night after symptom onset Monday, Dec. 26. This person did not work during the 48-hour infectious period so this does not put MPC into outbreak.

Effective Dec. 27, 2022

• Positive cases in Bloomingdale and Geneva

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale:
A direct care employee tested positive Monday, Dec. 26, after symptom onset. This person last worked Thursday, Dec. 22, so was not in the facility during the 48-hour infectious period. This does not put MPC into outbreak status

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva:
An agency aide tested positive after symptom onset. This individual did not work during the infectious period, but Sayers Home residents were tested this morning as a precaution. All tested negative. No homes on the Geneva campus are in outbreak.

Effective Dec. 21, 2022

• Positive case in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:
An Agency staff at MWC tested positive yesterday after symptom onset.  This person last worked the PM shift on Friday, Dec. 15, so this does not change MWC’s outbreak date.

Effective Dec.16, 2022

• New cases in Bloomingdale and Geneva

Marklund Day School (MDS), Bloomingdale:

An employee at the Ann Haskins Center of MDS-Bloomingdale tested positive on a PCR done last night after new symptom onset.  This person had previously tested positive in November, but with new symptoms, we have to treat this as a new/rebound case.  School Administration is doing contact tracing and notifications. This is the last day of school before winter break.

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva:

An administrative employee at MHC tested positive this morning after mild symptom onset.  This person did not have any close contact with anyone at Marklund during the 48-hour pre-infectious period.

Effective Dec. 15, 2022

• Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:

A direct care staff at MWC tested positive on a PCR done on Tuesday, Dec. 13, after symptom onset.  This moves the Outbreak Status date for MWC to Dec. 28.

Effective Dec. 14, 2022

• Additional positive cases in Geneva

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva:

A direct care employee working at the Hyde Center tested positive this morning during routine testing. This person, who is currently asymptomatic, worked some with some residents and staff from three Geneva group homes, as well as community clients, and those residents involved are being tested. We are not putting the homes into outbreak unless one of the residents or staff from the home test positive.

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva:

A direct care staff at MTH tested positive last night during routine testing. This person is currently asymptomatic, however this does extend the Outbreak status date to Dec. 18.

Effective Dec. 12, 2022

• New cases reported in Geneva and Elgin

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva:
A CDS community client tested positive on Saturday after developing symptoms. CDS management is contacting all applicable staff and families regarding exposure and testing requirements.
Marklund Day School (MDS), Geneva:
A school employee at the Foglia Education Center of MDS-Geneva tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms.  MDS administration has conducted contact tracing and is notifying staff and parents about potential exposure.
Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva:
An MRH resident tested positive today during outbreak testing (asymptomatic). All other MRH residents tested negative at this time. This extends the Outbreak Status at MRH to Dec. 27.
Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:
A direct care employee tested positive this morning after working the first half of her shift.  This person had developed symptoms. This will move MWC to Dec. 26.

 

Effective Nov. 27, 2022

• New School case:  Marklund Day School (MDS), Bloomingdale:

A school employee at the Ann Haskins Center of Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale received positive test results yesterday after developing symptoms on Nov. 24.  This person last worked on-site on the 22nd. Administration is conducting contact tracing and notifying any exposed individuals.

Effective Nov. 25, 2022

• Two new cases reported

Marklund Day School (MDS), Bloomingdale:  A school employee at the Ann Haskins Center of Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale tested positive for COVID yesterday, after developing symptoms on Wednesday, Nov. 23 This person had not been with students since Nov. 18, and had worked with just a few staff this week while wearing a mask.
This will not affect the Outbreak Status at the Marklund Philip Center (MPC).

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: An administration employee tested positive today after exposure and symptom onset. This person last worked at MHC on Tuesday, Nov. 22, and had not been in close contact with any staff or residents in the 48-hour pre-infectious period.

Effective Nov. 23, 2022

• Positive staff: Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:

Two direct care employees tested positive, one late yesterday and the other today, after developing symptoms.
This extends the Outbreak Status at MWC to Dec. 7.

Effective Nov. 22, 2022

• Positive staff: Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale:

A direct care employee tested positive today after learning of a community exposure. This person, who is currently asymptomatic, worked the last two nights which is considered within the 48 hour infections period.
Under our new protocol, MPC’s admin/nursing team will test only those who were considered close contact/high risk contacts three times with 48 hours in between each test. So far, all close contacts and residents have tested negative today. This puts MPC into Outbreak Status tentatively through Saturday, Nov. 26.

Effective Nov. 21, 2022

• Positive Case: Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:

A member of the MWC Support Staff tested positive today after symptom onset. This person worked yesterday so this extends MWC’s Outbreak Status to Dec. 5.

Effective Nov. 13, 2022

• Positive case — Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:

An agency (temp) direct care staff member tested positive Friday night, Nov. 11, after symptom onset. PCR is pending. This does not change MWC’s Outbreak Status date of Nov. 26.

Effective Nov. 11, 2022

• Positive case — Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:

An agency (temp) direct care staff member received positive test results yesterday from a PCR test taken on Monday. This person had worked yesterday prior to receiving the PCR results.
A MWC resident tested positive today via rapid after symptom onset.

MWC’s Outbreak Status is extended to Nov. 26.

Effective Nov. 9, 2022

• 2 New cases in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: We received word that a resident and a member of the support staff tested positive for COVID.
The resident, who is currently asymptomatic, received a positive result yesterday during surveillance testing. The employee, who worked until 12:30 a.m. this morning, tested positive today after developing symptoms.
MWC’s Outbreak Status is extended to Nov. 24.

Effective Nov. 6, 2022

• Additional cases in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A direct care employee tested positive today via homebased test after onset of COVID-like symptoms.  Rapid/PCR confirmation is pending.  This person did not work during the past 48 hours, so this does not change MWC’s Outbreak Status date of Nov. 19.
In addition, we received information that two MWC residents tested positive after developing symptoms on Friday.

Since last Sunday, six residents and five staff members have tested positive. I want to commend the staff at MWC for putting forth the extra effort this week with this unfortunate uptick in cases.

Effective Nov. 5, 2022

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A member of the support staff tested positive via rapid test after symptom onset yesterday afternoon.  PCR is pending.  This person worked on Friday morning, so this resets MWC’s Outbreak Status to Nov. 19.

Effective Nov. 4, 2022

• Additional COVID cases in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A direct care employee tested positive yesterday via PCR after symptom onset. This person last worked the Tuesday overnight shift. Another staff member had positive results today from a PCR done on Nov. 2, after symptom onset.  MWC’s Outbreak status date remains at Nov. 18.

Effective Nov. 3, 2022

• New COVID cases in Elgin and Geneva

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin-: A MWC residents tested positive for COVID today after developing symptoms. This extends MWC’s Outbreak status to Nov. 18.

Marklund Day School-Geneva (MDS): A school employee who works at the Foglia Education Center in Geneva tested positive today after developing symptoms. This person had minimal contact with office staff; no contact with teachers, staff or students.

Effective Nov. 2, 2022

• New COVID cases in Elgin and Bloomingdale

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin–2 cases: Two MWC residents tested positive for COVID, one after developing a fever, and another, who is currently asymptomatic, during outbreak testing. With these new cases added to those from yesterday, the whole building is put into Outbreak until Nov. 17.   We will move into the broad-based testing, which is every 3-7 days until we have gone 14 days without a new positive case.

Under the new IL Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) regulations, outings and activities may continue for anyone who is not in isolation/quarantine.  In-person visitation is also allowed, but all visitors must follow infection control including wearing facemasks, social distancing, etc.

Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale (MDS): A school employee received positive results on his PCR yesterday evening. This person developed symptoms on Monday but had not worked during the infectious period so this does not affect the school or Philip Center, and contact tracing is not required.

MHC Administration: An administration employee tested positive today after developing symptoms while offsite, so this will not affect any staff, residents or students.

Effective Nov. 1, 2022

• Positive cases in Elgin and Bloomingdale

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin–2 cases: A MWC direct care employee tested positive this morning via rapid (PCR pending) after traveling.  This person is currently asymptomatic and worked this morning, so this does put MWC into outbreak. After contact tracing and testing, a resident tested positive. The employee and resident are based on the same side at MWC, so tracing and testing will be contained to that area.
Under our new protocol, MWC will test (three times with 48 hours in between each test) only those who were considered close contact/high risk contacts.

Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale (MDS): A school employee who works in the Ann Haskins Center (AHC) at MDS-Bloomingdale tested positive via homebased test this morning after finding out she had been exposed this weekend.  This individual did work yesterday. Contact tracing determined that she had close contact with one Philip Center (MPC) Admin employee, other school staff at lunch, but no students or MPC residents. This does not put MPC into outbreak.

Effective Oct. 26, 2022

• It’s official! Policies, practices changing for the better!

This past Monday, we received “OFFICIAL” word from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health that we are finally able to revise our facility COVID-19 policies and procedures to align with the Sept. 23, 2022, CDC and CMS recommendations/ regulations. Since then, we have been updating a number of policies to reflect these welcome changes. Fun fact: our Modified Temporary Absence Policy has been revised 35 times since March of 2020!

With many of the changes highlighted information released directly to all staff, the most significant to our staff deal with testing, COVID pay, masking/eye protection.

We are all so pleased that we will no longer be required to do surveillance testing, regardless of staff vaccine status. This will free up valuable time for our nursing staff as well as for those staff required to make time for the weekly tests.
With COVID finally being considered an endemic rather than a pandemic, there will no longer be COVID pay for anyone calling off due to symptoms or having contracted the virus, just as there is no Flu pay–but there are vaccines for both which we continue to encourage staff to get. With most health-care organizations having cancelled COVID pay much sooner, we are proud to have been able to support our employees in this way for as long as we have been.

Staff are no longer required to wear eye protection except for when caring for a resident on droplet precaution. Masking requirements have lightened up as well, providing mask-free zones in non-resident/client areas (as permitted by Community Transmission status.)
Managers will follow-up with staff to in-service their teams on the new policies and procedures.

No doubt we are all very happy for these welcome changes and look forward to finally getting to the new normal.
Thank you all for your extended cooperation over the past 2 1/2 years.

Effective Oct. 18, 2022

• Positive case in Geneva

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: A direct care employee tested positive this morning during surveillance testing. This person is currently asymptomatic. Close contacts have been notified. This case does not affect any of the homes on the Geneva campus.

• Changes in requirements

We are still awaiting final word from IDPH (IL Dept. of Public Health) on how the Governor’s recent changes to COVID requirements for long-term care facilities will affect us at Marklund. As soon as we hear anything, we will share. Stay tuned!

Effective Oct. 12, 2022

• Positive case at Day School

Marklund Day School (MDS), Geneva: A school employee at the Foglia Education Center tested positive yesterday following community exposure. This person is currently asymptomatic and last worked on Tuesday, Oct. 11.  Contact tracing, notifications, and initial testing has begun.

• Resident testing

So far, testing completed on residents at all sites that are currently on outbreak has returned negative. We hope to be out of outbreak and have the residents back in the CDS classrooms next week.

Effective Oct. 10, 2022

• Additional cases in Geneva & Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A direct care employee received positive PCR results from a test that was taken last Friday, Oct. 7, due to symptom onset . This person was last in the building on Oct. 6. This moves MWC’s Outbreak Status to Oct. 21.
Marklund Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva: A direct care employee tested positive today during surveillance testing. This person is currently asymptomatic and last worked Wednesday, Oct. 5 so this does not affect the Outbreak Status date for MDH.

Effective Oct. 6, 2022

• Additional cases in Geneva

Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva: A direct care employee who worked the overnight shift Tuesday into Wednesday this week tested positive after developing symptoms.  This puts MHH in Outbreak until Oct. 20.
Marklund Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva: A direct care employee tested positive after developing symptoms yesterday. This person last worked on this past Tuesday. This moves MDH into Outbreak to Oct. 20.
Marklund VanDerMolen Home (MVH), Geneva: A direct care staff member who worked with residents from MVH, MDH and MHH this week tested positive today after developing symptoms. This also moves MVH into Outbreak Status until Oct. 20.

Effective Oct 5, 2022

• New cases in Elgin and Geneva

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A direct care employee received positive PCR results today from a test taken Sunday, Oct. 2, The person had symptom onset on Sunday and had initially tested negative via rapid. This case does extend MWC’s outbreak status as of now until Oct. 17.
Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva: An agency staff member who was working at MTH received positive PCR results today from a test taken yesterday, Oct. 4, after symptom onset. This person last worked on the Oct. 2 overnight shift so the Outbreak for MTH has been extended to Oct. 18.

• New regulations

New guidelines for healthcare and long-term-care facilities have been released by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) which will potentially loosen our restrictions regarding vaccine requirements, testing, and wearing PPE (masks, eye protection etc.) We are currently awaiting final written notification from IDPH and the governor’s office and will update everyone as soon as we hear.

Effective Sept. 30, 2022

• New case at Day School

Marklund Day School (MDS), Bloomingdale: A school employee who works in a LifeSkills classroom at the Ann Haskins Center of MDS-Bloomingdale tested positive yesterday on a homebased test after symptom onset.  Contact tracing and notification has begun for AHC students, staff and parents/guardians. This should not affect any students who reside at the Philip Center in Bloomingdale.

Effective Sept. 26, 2022

• New case at Day School

Marklund Day School (MDS), Bloomingdale: A school employee who works in a LifeSkills classroom at the Ann Haskins Center of MDS-Bloomingdale tested positive yesterday on a homebased test after symptom onset.  Contact tracing and notification has begun for AHC students, staff and parents/guardians. This should not affect any students who reside at the Philip Center in Bloomingdale.

Effective Sept. 22, 2022

• Positive Case in Geneva

A direct care employee tested positive this morning via rapid; PCR is pending.  This individual last worked in Tommy Home last night, Wednesday, Sept. 21. Contact tracing is completed, and staff are currently working on finishing the first round of testing of MTH residents.
This puts MTH into Outbreak Status until Oct. 6.

Effective Sept. 21, 2022

• New positive staff

Marklund Wasmond Center, (MWC), Elgin: A direct care employee received positive results today from a PCR test taken on Monday after developing symptoms. This person last worked over the weekend and briefly on Monday morning. This moves MWC in Outbreak Status to Oct. 4.

Effective Sept. 13, 2022

• One positive and many negatives

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: One direct care employee tested positive yesterday after symptom onset. This person last worked the day shift on Friday, Sept. 9, so this does not change MSH’s outbreak date.
Geneva and Bloomingdale statuses: All residents from MHH, MVH, MRH, and MTH have tested negative and are able to be back at Community Day Services (CDS) in Geneva. MDH residents have also recently completed two rounds of negative tests and will return to CDS on Wednesday. In addition, MPC is now out of Outbreak status.

Our administrators are in the process of scheduling on-site clinics for residents and staff to receive the new Bivalent booster. Hopefully that will help curb the spread of the virus so we can get closer to returning to normal activities.

Effective Sept. 7, 2022

• New positive cases in Geneva and Elgin

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: Three MSH residents tested positive yesterday. One has symptoms and two are asymptomatic. This extends MSH’s Outbreak status to Sept. 21.
Marklund Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva: An IHR staff member tested positive yesterday at her other job after developing symptoms on Sunday. This person last worked at MDH on Saturday, Aug. 31, so this puts MDH into Outbreak status to Sept. 18.
Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A MWC resident tested positive Tuesday after developing symptoms from a community exposure. This case moves the MWC Outbreak status date to Sept. 21.

Effective Sept. 5, 2022

• New positive cases in Geneva

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: Two new cases:
1) An agency staff at MSH tested positive last night after starting to feel unwell while working the PM shift. 2) An MSH resident, tested positive this morning via rapid after symptom onset. PCR is pending.
This moves MSH’s Outbreak status to Sept. 20.

Effective Sept. 4, 2022

• Positive cases in Geneva

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: One resident tested positive Friday night after developing symptoms. MSH Outbreak status remains at Sept. 17.
Marklund Day School (MDS), Geneva: A school employee at the Foglia Education Center of MDS-Geneva, received a positive result from a PCR test done on Thursday evening. Symptoms had started Wednesday night and although this individual tested negative in a rapid Thursday morning, the doctor recommended a PCR after the symptoms worsened.

Effective Sept. 2, 2022

• Resident and staff positive cases in Geneva and Elgin

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: Five residents tested positive this morning after developing symptoms. This extends the Outbreak status at MSH to Sept. 17.
Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A resident tested positive last night during outbreak testing. This person is currently asymptomatic. MWC’s Outbreak status has been extended to Sept. 16.
Marklund Day School (MDS), Geneva: A school employee at the Foglia Education Center of MDS-Geneva, tested positive today after developing symptoms. This individual last worked yesterday, Sept. 1. Contact tracing and notification is currently being completed.

Effective Sept. 1, 2022

• New positive cases in Geneva

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: A third resident from MSH received positive results from a PCR taken yesterday after developing symptoms. In addition, a support services staff member tested positive today after symptom onset. This extends the Outbreak status at MSH to Sept. 16.
Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva: A direct care agency staff tested positive yesterday while working at MSH.  She had worked the overnight shift the prior night at MSH and MTH so this extends the Outbreak Status at MTH to 9/15.

Effective Aug. 31, 2022

• Positive Residents in Geneva

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: Two residents from MSH received positive results on their PCRs taken yesterday during surveillance testing. Although initially asymptomatic, both residents now have symptoms. This extends the Outbreak status at MSH to Sept. 14.
This is the first resident case we’ve had at any of our sites since July 14. Prior to that, the last positive resident case was June 9. This is a great testament to the care consistently being provided to the men, women and children whom we serve!

Effective Aug. 29, 2022

• Staff cases in Bloomingdale and Geneva

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: A direct care staff member tested positive via rapid this morning after symptom onset yesterday.  This person last worked Saturday 3 p.m. – Sunday 7 a.m.  This moves the Outbreak status date for MSH to Sept. 12.
Marklund Day School (MDS)-Geneva: A school staff member at the Foglia Education center of MDS-G tested positive this morning after developing symptoms this weekend. This person last worked on Friday.
Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: A direct care employee with symptoms received a positive PRC result Saturday evening.  MPC’s Outbreak status is currently at Sept. 9; however, we have heard of another staff member coming in later today to be tested.

Unfortunately, we do have reports of symptomatic staff at multiple sites, and are awaiting their test results. Fortunately, those who are testing positive and have symptoms seem to be experiencing minor cold/flu like issues that resolve fairly quickly.

Effective Aug. 25, 2022

• New cases at Bloomingdale, Elgin and Geneva

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: A Support Services employee tested positive via PCR after symptom onset Monday night following a community exposure.  This person last worked on Sunday, Aug. 21. Contact tracing determined there was no close contact with any staff or residents. While this technically puts MPC into Outbreak to Sept. 6, no residents/staff need to quarantine. All residents as well as staff who worked on Sunday have tested negative.

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A direct care staff member tested positive via rapid this morning after congestion onset last night.  PCR is pending.  This individual worked at MWC this whole week, and rotated through a number groups with residents from both sides of the building, as well as some of our students in the on-site MDS classroom.  This puts the whole building into Outbreak to Sept. 8.

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: A direct care employee tested positive this morning after developing symptoms.  Through contact tracing, it was determined this individual worked with residents from the Tommy Home (MTH), Haverkampf Home (MHH), and Richard Home (MRH), and as well as with three community clients over the past two days.  Community Day Services (CDS) will be held in all six homes until testing is complete in order to lower transmission risk across the campus.  MRH, MHH and MTH will be in Outbreak status to Sept. 8.

 

Effective Aug. 24, 2022

• Marklund Day School-Geneva (MDS), Geneva:

A school employee who works at the Foglia Education Center at Marklund Day School-Geneva, received positive PCR results following exposure to a positive student last week. This person worked in the building on Monday and Tuesday of this week and is currently asymptomatic.

Effective Aug. 19, 2022

• Two new cases

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: A support staff member tested positive this morning after developing symptoms.  Contract tracing for staff has been completed and affected employees notified. This person was not in contact with residents, so this case will not affect any of the residential facilities.

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: A direct care employee reported symptom onset today at work and tested positive via rapid. PCR is pending. Contact tracing and testing of staff and residents is taking place. This puts MSH into outbreak status to Sept. 3.

Effective Aug. 17, 2022

• Geneva positive

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: A direct care staff member tested positive this morning after developing symptoms.  Contract tracing for staff is being completed. This person last worked yesterday Aug. 16, but was not in contact with residents, so this case will not affect any of the residential facilities.

Effective Aug. 8, 2022

• Staff test positive in offsite cases

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva, Marklund Philip Center (MPC) Bloomingdale: Three direct care staff members tested positive recently for COVID.—one from MHC (symptomatic) and the other two from MPC (one asymptomatic and one with symptoms). In all three situations, each employee had not been onsite during the 48-hour “infectious period” prior to testing positive so all three are considered non-facility based. No residential facilities are involved in any of these cases.

Effective Aug. 7, 2022

• Staff positives in Geneva

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: We were informed that two employees tested positive this weekend after symptom onset. One is an administration staff member who had symptoms develop Friday. Contact tracing has been completed and close contacts have been notified. The other is a direct care employee who tested positive last night, but was offsite during the infectious period prior to developing symptoms.
No residential facilities are involved in either of these situations.

Effective Aug. 5, 2022

• New positive cases on Geneva campus

Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva: A direct care employee tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms. This puts MHH into Outbreak Status to Aug. 18. Only a few residents are required to be tested due to past positive cases, and as of this morning, they are negative.

Foglia Education Center (FEC) at Marklund Day School, Geneva: A administrative employee at FEC tested positive on a home test after developing symptoms Wednesday night. This person did not have any close contact with other staff, and there are no students currently in the building.

Effective Aug. 3, 2022

• New cases in Bloomingdale:

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: Two direct care employees tested positive yesterday, one in the evening after developing symptoms and the other at night during surveillance testing. The second person is currently asymptomatic.
MPC’s Outbreak Status has been extended to Aug. 17.
No new cases have been reported at Geneva or Elgin.

Effective Aug. 2, 2022

• Positive cases in Geneva and Bloomingdale:

Hyde Center (MHC), Richard Home (MRH), Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva: Two Support Staff employees tested positive today after developing symptoms. One person last worked yesterday at MHC, so this case does not affect the 16–bed homes. The other worked in MRH and MDH. Contact tracing is being completed and close contacts are being notified. This puts MRH and MDH into Outbreak Status to Aug. 17. Employees and residents who require it will be outbreak tested.

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: A direct care employee tested positive today after symptom onset last Friday. This puts MPC into Outbreak Status to Aug. 13.

Marklund Day School, Ann Haskins Center, Bloomingdale : An employee at the Ann Haskins Center of MDS-Bloomingdale tested positive yesterday after reporting symptoms. This person had been offsite on PTO since July 27, so the case is not considered facility-based and will not affect the school’s status.

Effective July 29, 2022

• Additional case in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: An employee at MWC tested positive this morning after developing minor symptoms. This person last worked yesterday, July 28.  This moves MWC ‘s Outbreak status to Aug. 13.

Effective July 28, 2022

• New staff cases in Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: Two direct care employees from MWC tested positive via home tests this week, putting the entire facility into Outbreak Status until Aug. 11. PCR tests are being taken to confirm results.
One tested positive yesterday after onset of moderate symptoms. This employee did work onsite on Tuesday, July 26, with residents from both sides of MWC.  The second tested positive today after developing symptoms. This person had not worked onsite since Monday, July 25, so the case is not considered facility-based.
Although Wasmond will be in “Outbreak” until the 11th, activities/outings may resume for up-to-date residents after two negative test rounds, or after 10 days for not-up-to-date residents, as long as there are no additional cases.

Effective July 24, 2022

• Offsite staff case in Bloomingdale

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: A direct care employee from MPC tested positive via home test yesterday after community exposure and symptom onset. This person had not worked in the facility in the past week so this is not a facility-based case and does not put MPC into outbreak.

Effective July 22, 2022

• Offsite staff cases in Geneva

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: Two direct care employees from Marklund’s Geneva campus tested positive after developing symptoms. Both had not been working during the infectious period so they do not affect the COVID outbreak status of the residential sites or the Administration/Community Day Services areas.

Effective July 16, 2022

• Resident and staff cases continue at 2 homes

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH) and Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva: A direct care staff member from MSH and a resident from MTH tested positive after exposures, but both are currently asymptomatic. The resident’s PCR was taken on Tuesday and the employee last worked on Wednesday, so neither of these cases will affect the Outbreak Status dates for either home.

Effective July 15, 2022

• Two additional cases on Geneva campus

Marklund Sayers Home (MSH) and Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva: Two direct care employees—one from MSH and one from MTH—tested positive this morning after developing symptoms. One worked yesterday while the other was in this morning.  Contact tracing and outbreak testing will continue for eligible staff and residents. This will extend the Outbreak status for both homes to July 30.

Effective July 14, 2022

• New cases on Geneva campus

— Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: A direct care employee tested positive yesterday via rapid after reporting symptoms. This employee last worked Tuesday, July 12, and had tested negative that day during surveillance testing.  This will put MSH into Outbreak status to July 28.

— Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva: A direct care employee tested positive today at work after symptom onset.  This case puts MTH into Outbreak to July 29.

All eligible residents and staff will go through outbreak testing.

Effective July 12, 2022

• Staff case at Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A direct care employee tested positive today due to symptom onset. This person has not been onsite due to being on PTO so since it is considered a community-based case, this does not put MWC in Outbreak Status.

Effective July 7, 2022

• Positive cases at Marklund Day School

Marklund Day School, (MDS) Bloomingdale: An employee working at the Ann Haskins Center (AHC) of Marklund Day School, Bloomingdale, tested positive for COVID yesterday after developing symptoms. Day School administration completed contact tracing and notified staff as well as parents of any students who were potentially exposed. Staff in the affected classroom underwent rapid testing yesterday with no additional positive cases found.

Effective June 28, 2022

• Positive cases at Marklund Day School

Marklund Day School, (MDS) Geneva: Two staff members who work in the same classroom at the Foglia Education Center (FEC) of Marklund Day School, Geneva, tested positive yesterday, one following a community exposure and the other during exposure testing. A student in the same classroom tested positive as well. Contact tracing has been completed and those who have been determined to have been in close contact notified.
MDS is currently in its Extended School Year session, and all teachers and students are being asked to wear masks for the remainder of the session.

Effective June 21, 2022

• Staff case at Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A direct care employee at MWC tested positive with an offsite rapid test after developing symptoms. PCR is pending. This person was on PTO and has not been onsite since June 8. MWC is currently out of Outbreak and this case will not affect its Outbreak Status.

• Hyde Center water issue

The Mill Creek Water Reclamation District, which provides water to the Mill Creek subdivision including the Marklund Hyde Center campus, experienced a water main break early today. Marklund administration made the decision to close the Hyde Center for the day to office staff. However, residents are able to participate in CDS since water is being brought in to the classrooms. Each home is also stocked with a supply of water to use in emergency situations, and is being restocked as needed. The Reclamation District is hoping to remedy the situation by early evening.

Effective June 16, 2022

• New positive staff cases in Geneva and Bloomingdale:

Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH), Geneva: A direct care employee tested positive today after having a community exposure. This person is asymptomatic at this time. This puts MVH in Outbreak Status through July 1. However, since all residents were recently positive and are now cleared, they will be able to attend CDS, and will not be tested unless they become symptomatic.
Marklund Philip Center, (MPC), Bloomingdale: 1) An administrative employee received positive results from a PCR test taken earlier this week. This person had no contact with other staff or residents. 2) A direct care employee tested positive today via rapid after developing symptoms. MPC’s Outbreak Status will stay at June 30.

Effective June 15, 2022

• New Case at MPC:

Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: A direct care employee tested positive today after developing symptoms. This person last worked yesterday, but had been offsite for travel so this is not considered a facility-based case. The Outbreak Status date for MPC will be extended to June 30.

Effective June 14, 2022

• Positives in Elgin and Geneva:

Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A Support Staff employee tested positive yesterday via rapid test after symptom onset. PCR is pending.  This person had not been onsite due to being on vacation so the Outbreak Status date for MWC remains at June 18.
Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva: An IHR direct care employee tested positive this afternoon after developing symptoms yesterday. This person worked in MRH on Sunday, so this moves the home’s Outbreak Status date to June 29.

Effective June 12, 2022

• Staff/resident cases in Geneva:

— Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva: One resident and a staff member received positive COVID test results this weekend. The resident is asymptomatic and while the employee is experiencing symptoms. The employee’s positive was on a home-based test; PCR is pending to confirm.
This moves the Outbreak Status date for MHH to June 27.

Effective June 10, 2022

• One new case and a reversal

— Marklund Day School (MDS), Bloomingdale: A staff member tested positive yesterday evening after symptom onset. Contact tracing has been completed and affected staff/students informed for possible exposure.
— Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: The direct care staff member who tested positive on a home test this week, subsequently had two negative results on tests completed at Marklund. Based on these results, the Outbreak Status at MSH has been removed.

Effective June 9, 2022

• New cases on Geneva campus:

— Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH), Geneva: Three residents tested positive late yesterday and this morning after developing minor symptoms. The home’s Outbreak Status has been extended to June 24.

— Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH), Geneva: One direct care staff member tested positive yesterday, June 8, after symptom onset. The new Outbreak Status date for MVH is June 23.

— Marklund Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: A direct care staff member tested positive yesterday, June 8, on a home test. PCR is pending. MSH will be on Outbreak Status to June 23.

Obviously we have had a lot going on recently at all of our sites. Many of the cases have been asymptomatic that have been caught through Outbreak or Surveillance testing, while other cases include very mild, short-lived symptoms, for which we are very grateful. However, it is clear that this Omicron strain that started at the end of last year and has been spreading around and mutating is extremely contagious. Of course, our level of care hasn’t changed—staff are doing everything that they possibly can to support the residents—but when you see how many residents are getting COVID, it’s clear this is much more contagious than any of the earlier strains. Hopefully, as we get into the warmer weather, numbers will come down throughout our region and we can get back to normal routines.

 

Effective June 5, 2022

• Resident positives add to cases at Van Der Molen Home (MVH), Geneva:

Three residents at MVH tested positive after developing symptoms this weekend at MVH. This extends the home’s Outbreak Status to June 20.

• Staff case at Marklund Philip Center (MPC):

A direct care employee at MPC received positive results from outbreak testing completed on June 2. This person is currently asymptomatic. This extends MPC’s Outbreak Status to June 17.

Effective June 3, 2022

• Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH):

A direct care employee tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms. This person last worked on Tuesday, May 31.

• Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC):

A direct care employee tested positive today after onset of symptoms while at work. This extends MWC’s Outbreak Status to June 18.

• County Transmission Data Update:

The good news: CDC Community Transmission Rates dropped a bit in all three counties in which Marklund has locations. However, with the rates currently at 6.5% (Cook), 12.64% (DuPage) and 10.76 (Kane), all three are still considered in the High level. For Marklund, this means as a long-term-care facility, we are still required to do twice a week testing for staff who are not Up-To-Date with vaccines, and that all direct care staff must wear eye protection when with residents.

Effective June 2, 2022

COVID cases pop up in Geneva, Bloomingdale and Elgin

• Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH):

1) A direct care employee tested positive today after developing symptoms. This person is vaccinated/boosted and last worked on Tuesday, May 31.
2) An MVH resident (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive yesterday, June 1, after developing symptoms. This moves MVH’s Outbreak Status date to June 17.

• Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH):

A resident (vaccinated/boosted) also tested positive today after symptom onset. MHH will be in Outbreak Status to June 17.

• Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale (MDS):

An MDS staff member (vaccinated/boosted) who works in the Ann Haskins Center building in Bloomingdale tested positive today after symptom onset. School administration implemented contact tracing and determined that no students had been in close contact with this person. MDS will follow COVID protocol requirements set by IL State Board of Education.

• Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC):

A direct care employee received positive results today from a PCR test taken on May 31. This person, who is vaccinated/not boosted, last worked May 16.

Effective June 1, 2022

• Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC):

Two direct care staff tested positive yesterday and today during outbreak testing. Both are currently asymptomatic. One is vaccinated/not boosted, and the other, an agency staff, is unvaccinated and last worked on Monday, May 30. This moves the Outbreak Date for MWC to June 16.

• Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH):

Five residents tested positive during outbreak testing yesterday. They are all vaccinated and boosted. Three are asymptomatic; two have experienced mild symptoms. MVH will be on Outbreak Status to June 15.

• Marklund Tommy Home (MTH):

Two residents (vaccinated/boosted) also tested positive yesterday during Outbreak testing. Both are asymptomatic. MTH will be in Outbreak Status to June 15.

Effective May 31, 2022

• New positive cases at Van Der Molen (MVH) and Richard (MRH) homes, Geneva:

– Three residents of MVH tested positive yesterday evening and today. All are vaccinated/boosted; two have mild symptoms, and the other is asymptomatic.
– Two direct care employees at MVH also tested positive today after mild symptom onset. One is vaccinated/boosted. The other employee is unvaccinated, and had picked up shifts at MVH and MRH on Sunday, May 29.
Both homes will be in Outbreak status to June 15.

Effective May 30, 2022

• Employees and resident test positive in Geneva and Elgin

– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:
An administrative staff member (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive yesterday, May 29, after symptom onset. This person last worked on Friday, May 27. With this new case, MWC’s Outbreak status is extended to June 13.

– Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH), Geneva:
A resident and two direct care employees tested positive today. The resident (vaccinated/boosted) has developed symptoms, and the staff members (also vaccinated/boosted) are asymptomatic, and last worked yesterday, although one was in for a short period of time before testing today. MVH will be in Outbreak status to June 14.

Effective May 28, 2022

• Several new cases reported, most asymptomatic

– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:
Four direct care staff members at MWC tested positive late yesterday and today. Three are experiencing symptoms. The other one is asymptomatic and got the positive result from outbreak testing. Three are vaccinated/boosted, and one is not boosted.
Eleven residents received positive results from PCR tests taken yesterday, May 27. All are currently asymptomatic and all but one are vaccinated/boosted. MWC staff are working to temporarily rearrange residents in order to cluster positive cases together.
MWC’s Outbreak status has been extended to June 12.

Effective May 27, 2022

• Nine new cases in Geneva and Elgin

– Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva:
Three MTH residents (all vaccinated/boosted) tested positive today after mild symptom onset. Outbreak status for MTH has been extended to June 11.
– Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva:
A direct care employee (vaxxed/not boosted), tested positive today offsite after onset of after COVID-like symptoms. This person last worked yesterday at MRH. This resets MRH’s Outbreak status date to June 11.
– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:
Three staff members (two direct care and one support) at MWC tested positive late yesterday and this morning during outbreak testing. They are all vaccinated/boosted and are currently asymptomatic.
Another MWC direct care employee (unvaccinated) tested positive today after developing symptoms.
One MWC resident (vaccinated/boosted) also received positive results today after new symptom onset.
MWC’s Outbreak status has been extended to June 11.

Effective May 26, 2022

• New staff and resident cases in Elgin

– Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:
Four direct care staff members at MWC received positive test results yesterday, May 25. Three have developed symptoms, and the other is currently asymptomatic. One of the four is vaccinated/boosted, two others did not get the booster, and one is unvaccinated.
Five MWC residents also received positive results from outbreak testing, but are all asymptomatic for COVID symptoms. All but one are vaccinated/boosted; one did not get the booster.
This will keep MWC in Outbreak status to June 9.

Effective May 24, 2022

• Staff/resident cases in Geneva/Bloomingdale

– Richard Home (MRH) and Philip Center (MPC): A support staff (vaccinated/boosted), tested positive Monday, May 23. This employee, who is asymptomatic, had picked up a shift at MPC on Saturday, May 21, and last worked in Geneva at MRH yesterday but had no extended contact with residents or staff. This does not change the outbreak dates for MPC or MRH.

– Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale (MDS): A staff member (vaccinated/boosted) working in the Ann Haskins Center at MDS-Bloomingdale tested positive yesterday after a community exposure. This employee, who is asymptomatic, last worked Friday, May 20, and did not have close contact with other staff or students when onsite yesterday for the COVID test.

– Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: A direct care employee (vaccinated/boosted), tested positive yesterday during outbreak testing.  This person is also asymptomatic at this time. The quarantine date for MSH has been extended to June 7.

– Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva: A resident received positive results from a PCR taken yesterday, May 23, during outbreak testing. This resident (vaccinated/boosted) is currently asymptomatic.

– Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: 1) A resident (vaccinated/boosted), tested positive today after developing symptoms.  2) A direct care employee (vaccinated/boosted) received positive results from a PCR taken on May 22, due to symptom onset.
This pushes MWC’s outbreak date to June 8.

Effective May 22, 2022

• Employee COVID cases in Bloomingdale

Marklund Philip Center (MPC): Two direct care staff members (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive (the first on Friday, May 20, and the second on Saturday, May 21) during surveillance/outbreak testing.  Both are currently asymptomatic. They last worked at MPC on Thursday, May 19. This puts MPC into outbreak to June 5.

• New cases at Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin

A support staff (vaxxed/boosted), tested positive while working at another job. This employee last worked at Wasmond on Thursday, May 19.
Four MWC residents (vaccinated/boosted) had positive results return from tests taken May 18-21. Three have symptoms and the other is asymptomatic.
This moves MWC’s outbreak date to June 5.

Effective May 20, 2022

• One additional resident case

Marklund Tommy Home (MTH), Geneva: A resident (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive yesterday after developing symptoms. All other MTH test results came back negative. This extends the quarantine date at MRH to June 3.

Effective May 19, 2022

• Additional resident case

Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva: A resident (vaccinated/boosted) has tested positive this morning after developing mild symptoms. This extends the quarantine date at MRH to June 3.

• Summer Games postponed

Due to the uptick in cases and extension of residential quarantine dates into June, administration has made the decision to postpone Summer Games at all three sites until August. Specific details and dates will be determined in the near future.

Effective May 18, 2022

• Staff test positive for COVID

– Geneva:
Marklund Richard Home (MRH): A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted), tested positive today during outbreak testing. This person is asymptomatic.
Marklund Tommy Home (MTH): Another direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted), had a positive test result after developing symptoms during the night shift. This person also worked at the Sayers Home (MSH) and MRH.
This will move the quarantine date for MRH, MSH and MTH to June 2.
– Elgin:
Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC): A member of the support staff (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive Monday May 16, after developing mild symptoms. This will extend MWC’s outbreak status to June 1.

Effective May 17, 2022

• New cases in Geneva

Marklund Richard Home (MRH): An asymptomatic resident (vaccinated/boosted) received a positive PCR result from outbreak testing yesterday, May 16. MRH will remain in quarantine until May 30.
Tommy Home, (MTH), Sayers Home (MSH), Van Der Molen Home (MVH): A direct care employee tested positive this morning, after developing symptoms post exposure. This person worked in CDS yesterday with MTH, MSH and MVH residents, so all three of these homes will move into outbreak through June 1.

Effective May 16, 2022

• Positive cases continue

Five staff and seven residents tested positive for COVID over the weekend and this morning at the Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC) and the Richard Home (MRH).
MRH, Geneva: Two residents and two direct care staff tested positive after developing symptoms Sunday, May 15. The residents are both vaccinated/boosted; the staff are vaccinated/not boosted. All are experiencing symptoms. One of the employees last worked Friday, May 13, and the other on Saturday, May 14, so this resets the quarantine date for MRH to May 30.
MWC, Elgin: Positive cases included five residents and three staff (two direct care and one support). Three of the residents are asymptomatic and were discovered through outbreak testing. The other two have mild/moderate symptoms. All are vaccinated/boosted.
Two of the positive employees are vaccinated/boosted; the other is not boosted. One last worked on Friday and is experiencing symptoms, another last worked yesterday and then developed symptoms, and the third was tested this morning due to having an offsite exposure, had the positive result but currently is asymptomatic. The new quarantine date for MWC is May 31.
While it is obvious Marklund is continuing to face a spike in cases, at least a majority of the positive staff cases have been with very mild or no symptoms, Happily, those employees diagnosed earlier this Spring are able to return to work this week. Resident cases, for the most part, have been manageable.

Effective May 14, 2022

• Two new COVID positives

Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva. A support staff member (vaccinated/not boosted), tested positive yesterday during surveillance testing.  This person is asymptomatic. Contact tracing is being conducted, but this case does not affect any of the Geneva campus homes at this time.
Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin. A resident (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive after developing symptoms.

Effective May 13, 2022

• Multiple new COVID cases develop

– Marklund Richard Home (MRH), Geneva. Five residents (all vaccinated/boosted) tested positive late yesterday/today for COVID during outbreak testing. They are asymptomatic or experiencing mild symptoms.
In addition, another direct care staff member (vaccinated/not boosted) at MRH had a positive result on an offsite PCR test after onsite exposure. This person is currently asymptomatic and last worked Monday, May 9.
This moves the quarantine date at MRH to May 28, or until all staff and residents test negative in two consecutive rounds.
– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin. Four staff members (three direct care and one support) tested positive late yesterday and today. One is vaccinated/not boosted and has mild symptoms; the other three are vaccinated/boosted and are symptomatic or experiencing mild symptoms. Since these employees worked on both sides, MWC will be on quarantine through May 28.
– Marklund Day School-Geneva. A staff member (vaccinated/not boosted) in the Foglia Education Center tested positive yesterday evening after developing mild symptoms. This person last worked yesterday.

Unfortunately, it is clear we are still living in a world dealing with a pandemic. It looks like we may be experiencing a new subvariant of the virus. At present, it is predominantly confined to two of our homes and most cases are developing mild or no symptoms. Please know we are continuing to be vigilant with following all IDPH and CDC virus control recommendations and doing everything we can to keep our residents safe.

Effective May 12, 2022

• Additional residents test positive

Two additional residents at the Marklund Richard Home (MRH) in Geneva tested positive for COVID during outbreak testing. One is vaccinated/not boosted and is asymptomatic; the other is vaccinated/boosted, and also without specific symptoms.
Staff has worked out an isolation arrangement for the three positive residents currently at that home.
The quarantine date for MRH remains through May 26, or until all residents test negative in two consecutive rounds of testing.

Effective May 11, 2022

• Staff and resident cases found on Geneva campus

1) A resident (fully vaccinated/boosted) of the Marklund Richard Home (MRH) tested positive yesterday, May 10, after developing minor symptoms.  We have implemented droplet and isolation protocol for this resident to help reduce the chance of the virus spreading.
2) A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) also tested positive yesterday during surveillance testing. This person is currently asymptomatic.
3) In addition, another direct care staff (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive today after developing symptoms after working a shift on Monday.
4) A staff member in the Community Day Services classes at the Hyde Center in Geneva who works with MRH residents tested positive during outbreak testing this afternoon. This person (vaccinated/not boosted) worked today and is currently asymptomatic.
MRH will be quarantining residents through May 26, or until all residents test negative during two rounds of testing.

Effective May 8, 2022

• New staff case on Geneva campus

A direct care staff member (vaccinated/boosted), tested positive after developing symptoms while working late in the evening Friday, May 6, at the Richard Home on the Geneva campus (MRH). First round of tests were completed on residents, as was contact tracing for staff. This puts MRH into outbreak until May 21.

Effective May 6, 2022

• New case on Geneva campus

After a sudden onset of symptoms yesterday afternoon prior to working, a direct care staff member from the VanDerMolen Home (MVH) on the Geneva campus tested positive for COVID-19. The employee (unvaccinated) last worked Wednesday, May 4. This puts MVH into Outbreak Status until May 20.

Contact tracing is completed and first-round testing of residents and any exposed staff is underway. So far, no additional positive cases have developed.

• Following up on previous cases

Residents at Tommy Home (MTH) in Geneva and Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin have completed two rounds of testing with no additional cases discovered.

Effective May 4, 2022

• New Positive case reported in Geneva

An administration staff member (vaccinated/not boosted) on the Geneva campus tested positive yesterday during regular surveillance testing. This person is currently asymptomatic and has not had any contact with residents or students. This will not affect the Outbreak Status at the school or any of the campus buildings in Geneva.

Effective May 3, 2022

• Positive case reported in Geneva

An employee who works in administration at Marklund Hyde Center-Geneva (vaccinated/boosted), tested positive on an offsite rapid test Monday, May 2, after exposure followed by symptom onset.  PCR result is pending. This person last worked on campus on Friday, April 29.

Effective May 1, 2022

• COVID cases at Day School, Geneva

Two staff members in the Foglia Education Center (FEC) at Marklund Day School-Geneva tested positive yesterday, April 30, after having had an on-site exposure. Both worked all week in the classrooms. Contact tracing has been completed; employees as well as parents of students designated as close contacts have been informed.

This latest development puts FEC in Outbreak Status, which means all staff will be required to wear masks through May 27, according to the school’s mitigation plan and the guidance from IDPH and ISBE.  Those students identified as close contacts are required to remain home for 10 calendar days after the last date of exposure to the probable COVID-19 case, so may return to school on May 10, 2022.  Students who are able to wear a mask are eligible to return after 5 days, on May 5, 2022.

Effective April 29, 2022

• Staff positives found at Elgin and Geneva

– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin:
A direct care employee (unvaccinated) tested positive yesterday morning, April 28. This person last worked Wednesday, April 27, and as a result, MWC will be on Outbreak status until May 13.
Another direct care employee (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive today after developing symptoms yesterday following a community exposure. This person last worked Monday, April 25, so this non-facility-based case does not affect the current outbreak status at MWC.

– Marklund Hyde Center (MHC) and Tommy Home (MTH) Geneva:
A new employee in this week’s orientation class (unvaccinated) tested positive today after sudden symptom onset. This person has been training in MTH and the MHC CDS classroom. This will put MTH in Outbreak until May 14.

In all circumstances, contact tracing is completed testing of exposed staff/residents underway.

Effective April 27, 2022

• New positive cases at Geneva campus

– Marklund Hyde Center, (MHC) Geneva:

Two employees in the administration wing of the Hyde Center tested positive for COVID this week. One (vaccinated/not boosted) is asymptomatic and had a positive result during surveillance testing yesterday. The second (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive today after developing symptoms. Contact tracing has been completed and testing begun for those who may have been exposed. Neither of these staff had contact with residents so this does not affect the status of the homes at the Hyde Center Campus.  Currently none of our sites are on Outbreak.

• Transmission rates continue on the upswing

CDC Community Transmission Rates continue to creep upward this week for Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, keeping each of our areas in the “High” levels. This means eye protection must be worn by staff when providing care to residents, and surveillance testing for anyone not boosted remains at twice weekly.

Effective April 18, 2022

• Positive employee in Bloomingdale

Marklund Philip Center (MPC): A direct care employee (fully vaccinated/boosted), received positive results this weekend from a PCR taken after symptom onset late Wednesday.  This person had last worked Sunday, April 10, and was not in the building during the 48 hours prior to symptom onset, so this is not considered facility-based and will not put MPC into Outbreak Status.

• CDC Community Transmission Rates Increase

As of today, Cook and DuPage counties are both at “High” transmission levels, and Kane is at “Substantial” which means staff at all three of our campuses should continue with eye protection and two-times-per-week surveillance testing for staff who are not fully vaccinated.

Effective April 14, 2022

• Positive employee at Day School

– Marklund Day School (MDS): A second staff member (up-to-date/boosted) in the Ann Haskins Center of MDS-Bloomingdale tested positive yesterday after symptom onset. Contact tracing has been completed, and students identified as close contacts will do remote learning until April 22.

• Status updates:

– Marklund Philip Center (MPC) in Bloomingdale came out of Outbreak Status as of today, April 14.
– Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH) in Geneva. Although no new cases have been detected from 2 rounds of staff/resident testing, MVH officially remains on Outbreak until April 22. With all MVH residents fully vaccinated/boosted, they were allowed to return to CDS onsite today.

Effective April 12, 2022

• Positive employees in Bloomingdale

– Philip Center (MPC): A direct care employee at MPC tested positive last night prior to starting the overnight shift. This employee had not been in the building for over 48 hours and had tested negative last Thursday, so this is not considered a facility-based case. This latest positive will not affect the Outbreak Status at MPC which is currently slated to end Thursday, April 14.
– Marklund Day School (MDS): A staff member in the Ann Haskins Center of MDS-Bloomingdale tested positive yesterday after symptom onset. The class in which this employee works moved into remote learning as of yesterday and will return to “in-person” on Tuesday, April 19. This positive case will not affect MPC’s Outbreak Status since the employee only works with Life Skills students, not any who are residents at MPC.

Effective April 7, 2022

• Positive employee on Geneva campus

A direct care employee at Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH) on the Hyde Center campus in Geneva tested positive today after learning of a community exposure. Contact tracing is completed and all residents have had PCR tests today which will be sent out to the lab. This puts MVH on Outbreak Status through April 22. Outings are cancelled for now and volunteer activities are being paused.

• Community Transmission Rates Increase

As of this week, the CDC Community Transmission Rate has increased in Kane County moving into the SUBSTANTIAL level. Unfortunately, this means direct care staff at the Geneva campus are required to wear eye protection again. Wasmond Center (MWC) and Philip Center (MPC) staff need to continue to do so as well since Cook and DuPage counties are also at Substantial levels. Hopefully, we will see rates decrease as we get further into Spring.

Effective March 30, 2022

• Positive Employee in Bloomingdale

A direct care employee at the Philip Center (MPC) in Bloomingdale tested positive today after developing mild symptoms. This person last worked Tuesday, March 29, but had no close contact with residents and very limited contact with a few staff members while wearing a mask and social distancing. Contact tracing and first round testing of all residents and most staff is completed. This puts MPC in Outbreak Status until April 14, therefore outings are cancelled, and volunteer activity is put on hold.

Effective March 17, 2022

• Positive staff at Day School:

Two staff members of Marklund Day School tested positive after developing symptoms. 1) One employee worked in a classroom at the Ann Haskins Center (AHC) in Bloomingdale on Tuesday, March 15, and last worked with staff at the Foglia Education Center in Geneva yesterday, March 16. No other Bloomingdale staff or students tested positive. School administration is in the process of informing students’ parents/guardians that the classroom at AHC will be switched to remote learning, returning to in-person after Spring Break. 2) A staff member at Foglia Education Center (FEC) in Geneva also tested positive after symptom onset. This person last worked yesterday (Wednesday, March 16) and had no student contact. Contact tracing and testing of staff is being completed.

Effective March 1, 2022

• New positive staff cases:

– Geneva campus:

A direct care employee tested positive this morning during surveillance testing. This person is currently asymptomatic but worked last night in the Richard (MRH) and Dreher (MDH) homes. This puts these two homes into outbreak status until March 16. Nursing staff is currently working on contact tracing and testing of staff and residents from both homes.
A nurse from our In-House Registry (IHR) tested positive after developing symptoms from an ongoing community exposure. This person had not been at Marklund for several days, so this is not considered facility-based nor does it put any additional area into outbreak.

Effective Feb. 24, 2022

• COVID Positive resident in Elgin:

Unfortunately, COVID-positive test results arrived late yesterday for a resident on the North Side of MWC. This resident (unvaccinated) is a new admission and as such has been in a single room under droplet/contact precaution protocol so there was not any close contact with other residents, and staff were all wearing appropriate PPE when in the room. So, technically due to IL Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) regulations, this means Wasmond Center (MWC) continues to be in outbreak status. All residents and staff will go through outbreak testing on Friday and Tuesday.

Effective Feb. 23, 2022

• Out of Outbreak:

I am pleased to report that all of our residential sites are out of outbreak status as of today!
We have no positive resident or staff cases to report!

• Positivity rates are down:

In other good news, the CDC Community Transmission Rates are below 5% in all three counties in which we have our locations—Cook, DuPage and Kane—which means we will be able to again resume our in-person volunteer program. However, all volunteers must be able to show documentation of being up-to-date on COVID vaccines including the booster.
Even with the lower rates, all three sites are still considered to be at “High” levels according to the CDC, which means direct care staff must continue to wear eye protection and those who are unvaccinated/not up-to-date on vaccine/boosters must be tested twice per week.

Effective Feb. 10, 2022

• New Positive cases:

– Wasmond Center, Elgin (MWC): A resident (vaccinated/boosted) received a positive test result this morning from Tuesday’s surveillance testing. This person, who resides on the North Side of the facility, is currently asymptomatic and doing well. This does not affect MWC’s Out-of-Outbreak date since this resident’s test was completed on the same day as the positive staff that we reported about yesterday.
– Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale (MDS): A direct care employee provided by a partnering school district who works one-on-one onsite with a Marklund Day School student tested positive for COVID last night. Due to the fact that the other students in that classroom are not able to wear masks, that classroom will move to remote learning for the next 10 days. Contact tracing for our staff has been completed.

• Governor’s mask mandate:

Even though Gov. JB Pritzker announced yesterday that he is going to be relaxing some of the rules for mask wearing by the end of the month, nothing will be changing for us at Marklund. As long-term-care facility, we follow regulations of IL Dept. of Public Health (IDPH), so our mask-wearing process will continue—for now.

 

Effective Feb. 9, 2022

• Positive staff case:

– Wasmond Center, Elgin (MWC): A additional direct care employee (unvaccinated) tested positive yesterday on a rapid test during surveillance testing.  PCR test is pending.  This individual is currently asymptomatic and last worked Monday evening.

• IDPH Long-Term-Care Regulations regarding visitation:

According to the IL Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) Long-Term Care Facilities Guidance, visitors must follow the quarantine and isolation guidance for Long-Term-Care residents; the shortened CDC time periods enacted for the general public do not apply. This means that a visitor must be in isolation for 10 full days after a positive test, or 14 days of quarantine if a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual, regardless of vaccination status.

Effective Feb. 6, 2022

• New positive staff case:

– Wasmond Center, Elgin (MWC): A direct care employee (vaccinated, not yet eligible for booster), tested positive on a home-based test yesterday following symptom onset.  PCR test is pending.  This individual was last in the building for the day shift on Thursday, Feb. 3.
While continuing to see a few cases pop up, we are cautiously optimistic that we’re getting close to the day when all of our sites will be out of outbreak and can return to normal activity. According to the CDC, Cook County has finally dropped below a 5- percent positive community transmission rate. DuPage and Kane are still above at 9.47% and 11.76% respectively, but are heading in the right direction.

 

Effective Jan. 31, 2022

• Additional positive staff cases:

– Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale, (MDS): A school employee (vaccinated/ not boosted), had a positive rapid test result today following a work exposure from last week. This individual is currently asymptomatic and last worked Friday, Jan. 28.
– Wasmond Center, Elgin (MWC): A direct care employee from our In-House Registry (IHR), (vaccinated, not boosted), tested positive today on a rapid test after symptom onset. PCR is pending. This person last worked Thursday, Jan. 27.

Effective Jan. 29, 2022

• New positive staff case:

– Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale, (MDS): A school employee (vaccinated/not yet eligible for booster) tested positive on a PCR completed earlier in the week after having an exposure at the school.  This individual tested negative on the rapid done after the initial exposure and continued working until the PCR result returned Friday, Jan. 28. School administration completed contact tracing and has notified student families and staff who are considered to have been in close contact.

Effective Jan. 26, 2022

• Sad news to share:

I am very saddened to share that a resident of the Wasmond Center passed away early today at the hospital from complications that developed due to having COVID. We are all very appreciative of the wonderful care and affection shown to this resident not only during the illness but throughout this person’s life spent at Marklund. Our condolences and prayers for his family and friends.
This is the first member of the Marklund family that we’ve lost due to COVID in the nearly two years of dealing with this pandemic, which is honestly a tribute to the care of our dedicated staff.

• New Positive staff case:

– Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A direct care employee (vaccinated/boosted), tested positive via rapid yesterday during outbreak testing.  This person is currently asymptomatic and last worked in the building Tuesday, Jan. 25, but had no resident contact.

Effective Jan. 21, 2022

• Positive staff cases:

– Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: A direct care employee (vaccinated/boosted), tested positive via rapid offsite yesterday after developing symptoms.  This individual last worked Sunday, Jan. 16, and had had a negative PCR surveillance result after that shift.  This does not affect MPC’s outbreak end date.
– Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: An IHR direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive yesterday via offsite test.  This employee last worked in MSH on Jan. 12.  This is not a facility-based case and does not affect MSH’s out-of-outbreak date.

Effective Jan. 20, 2022

Two New positive cases:

– Wasmond Center (MWC) Elgin: A support services employee tested positive this morning on a home rapid test after developing symptoms last night. PCR confirmation is pending. This person (vaccinated/not boosted) last worked yesterday, Jan. 19.
– Day School (MDS), Bloomingdale: A school employee (unvaccinated) tested positive today via rapid upon arriving at work and reporting congestion. This individual last worked yesterday, Jan. 19, in the school. Contact tracing has begun at the Day School.

Effective Jan. 18, 2022

Although reports are showing modest decreases in the Community Transmission Rates in Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, we are seeing additional positive cases among staff and residents

• Additional staff and resident COVID cases:

– Wasmond Center (MWC) Elgin: 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated/not yet eligible for booster) tested positive after developing symptoms. This person last worked the night shift on Jan. 13. 2) A support services employee (vaccinated/not boosted) received positive results from a PCR taken yesterday. This person is symptomatic and last worked Sunday night, Jan. 16.
– Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: An administrative employee (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive after developing symptoms yesterday from an offsite exposure. This person last worked in the office on Jan. 13, and had no contact with residents.
– VanDerMolen Home (MVH), Geneva: An asymptomatic resident tested positive from yesterday’s surveillance PCR testing. This resident is vaccinated/boosted.

Effective Jan. 17, 2022

• New positive staff and resident COVID cases:

– Marklund Day School (MDS) Bloomingdale: A school staff member received positive PCR results over the weekend. This individual (vaccinated/boosted) is currently asymptomatic. Contact tracing has been completed for staff and students, and those determined to be in close contact were notified.

– Sayers Homes (MSH), Geneva: A resident (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive upon returning back to Marklund this weekend after a non-COVID-related hospital stay, and was re-admitted to the hospital yesterday to proactively start antiviral therapy. This resident is currently stable and responding well to treatment. The case is considered hospital-acquired so will not change the Outbreak end date for MSH.

Effective Jan. 14, 2022

• Staff positive cases:

– Marklund Day School (MDS) Bloomingdale: A school staff member tested positive today after symptom onset. This individual (vaccinated/boosted) had a work exposure and had tested negative earlier in the week via rapid. PCR is pending. Contact tracing has begun for staff and students, and those determined to be in close contact will be notified. The specific classroom that is involved has been moved to remote learning until Jan. 24.
– VanDerMolen & Haverkampf Homes (MVH & MHH), Geneva: A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive after developing symptoms during last night’s shift. PCR result is pending.
– Wasmond Center, (MWC), Elgin: 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) received positive PCR results yesterday. This person was tested after developing symptoms, and last worked Tuesday, Jan. 11. 2) An admin staff member (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive after symptom onset. This employee has not been in the building since Jan. 7. 3) Another direct care staff tested positive today via rapid after developing symptoms. This employee (vaccinated/not yet eligible for booster) worked last night’s overnight shift.

Effective Jan. 13, 2022

As we have seen over the past few weeks, the number of positive cases continue to rise and fall. For a few days we had slowed down, but today, we’re back to an uptick. But overall we’re expecting the cases to decrease in the coming weeks.

• New staff cases:

– Marklund Day School (MDS) Bloomingdale: 1) Two day school employees tested positive after symptoms developed post exposure at work. One is fully vaccinated/boosted, the other is not boosted. Both last worked on Jan. 7
2) A third school staff member (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive after a work exposure and is currently asymptomatic. This person last worked Wednesday, Jan. 12, until received results.
– Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated/boosted) received positive results yesterday from PCR surveillance testing on Jan. 10. This individual is currently asymptomatic and last worked Monday’s overnight shift.
– Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: A direct care employee (unvaccinated) tested positive after developing symptoms on Monday, Jan. 10. This person last worked Saturday, Jan. 8.
– Wasmond Center, (MWC), Elgin: A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive today via rapid after experiencing symptoms. PCR test results from an offsite test on Jan. 8, are still pending. This person last worked yesterday.

• New resident cases:

– MWC: Positive results from PCR testing completed on Tuesday, Jan. 11, came in today for four MWC residents. One resides on the facility’s South Side, is vaccinated/boosted and currently asymptomatic. The other three reside on the North Side. One is unvaccinated and currently asymptomatic; the others are vaccinated/boosted, although one is asymptomatic while the other has mild symptoms.
– MPC: One resident (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive from outbreak testing and is currently experiencing mild symptoms.

Effective Jan. 12, 2022

• New staff cases:

– Marklund Day School (MDS) Bloomingdale: 1) A day school employee (Vaccinated/not boosted) was tested after developing symptoms on Monday. PCR results are positive for COVID. This person last worked Friday, Jan. 7.
2) A second school staff member (vaccinated/not boosted) was tested last week after developing symptoms, and the PCR test confirmed positive results today. This person last worked on Jan. 5.
– Philip Center: 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive in surveillance testing. This person developed symptoms today and last worked yesterday.
2) Another direct care staff member (vaccinated/not boosted) has positive PCR test results from surveillance testing. This person, who worked today until the results came in, is currently asymptomatic.
– Dreher Home (MDH), Geneva: A support staff employee (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive offsite today after developing symptoms. This person last worked yesterday. PCR is pending.
– Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) tested offsite last week and results came back today as positive. This person, who last worked on Saturday, Jan. 8, became symptomatic on Monday, Jan. 10.

• New resident case:

A third MWC resident who is COVID-positive was admitted to the hospital today after developing more severe symptoms. The other two residents are currently stable. No other residents are currently hospitalized.

Effective Jan. 11, 2022

• Additional staff test positive:

As of yesterday, Jan. 10, the CDC Community Transmission Rate were 16.69% for Cook County (Wasmond Center), 19.93% for DuPage County (Philip Center) and 22.20% for Kane County (Hyde Center). That is an increase in all of our counties from last week, which is clearly why were are still seeing positive cases among staff.

– Wasmond Center (MWC):

1) A direct care employee (fully vaccinated/not yet eligible for booster) tested positive via rapid yesterday after developing symptoms offsite. This person last worked Friday night. PCR is pending.
2) Another direct care employee tested positive today during outbreak testing. This person, who is asymptomatic, worked the PM shift yesterday. PCR is pending.

– Hyde Center Campus (MHC), Geneva:

1) A direct care staff (unvaccinated) tested positive yesterday afternoon during surveillance testing. This person has not worked in any of the homes recently. PCR test is pending.

Effective Jan. 10, 2022

• Positive staff cases to report:’

In the last few days, we’ve received reports of fewer new positive cases among staff, giving us hope that the big surge Marklund has been experiencing may be winding down.

– Wasmond Center (MWC): 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) had symptom onset after working last on Thursday, Jan. 6, Rapid test completed yesterday, Jan. 9, came back positive. PCR test is pending.
– Sayers Home (MSH), Geneva: 1) A direct care staff (vaccinated/not boosted) felt unwell during the shift yesterday Jan. 9, and tested positive. PCR test is pending.
2) Another direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) reported cold-like symptoms yesterday offsite, and tested positive today via rapid. PCR test is pending. This person has not been on campus since Thursday, Jan. 6, at MSH.
Marklund Day School (MDS): An Education staff member (unvaccinated) at MDS- Geneva tested positive today during weekly mandated surveillance testing.  This individual is currently asymptomatic, and had no student or staff contact.

Effective Jan. 9, 2022

• New positive staff cases

– Wasmond Center (MWC): 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated/boosted) tested positive yesterday, Jan. 8, after mild symptom onset. This employee last worked 1/7/22.
– Marklund Day School (MDS): 1) A member of Day School administration (Vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive after developing symptoms. This person has not been onsite for more than 2 weeks so this is not a facility-based case.

• Resident case in Elgin

A North-side resident at MWC (unvaccinated) tested positive yesterday after developing mild symptoms.

Effective Jan. 7, 2022

• New COVID cases to report

– Wasmond Center (MWC): 1) An IHR (In-House Registry) direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) who tested positive via rapid after symptom onset on Jan. 4, had positive PCR results today. Last worked overnight shift on Jan. 3.
2) Another direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) had symptom onset at work last night, tested positive via rapid. PCR pending.
* Please note: Some MWC staff previously diagnosed as COVID-positive have been able to return to work.

• Resident cases in Elgin

Two residents at MWC tested positive yesterday this morning after developing mild symptoms. One is vaccinated and boosted, one is unvaccinated.

Effective Jan. 6, 2022

• New cases to report

– Sayers Home (MSH): 1) An IHR (in-house registry) direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted/previously positive last fall) tested positive yesterday at the start of the shift. This person has very mild symptoms.

– Philip Center (MPC): 1) A staff member tested positive after mild symptom onset. This person (vaccinated/not boosted) had only been in the Administration area of the building, had no resident contact and no close contact with staff.

– Marklund Day School (MDS): 1) An Education staff member (unvaccinated) at he day school in Bloomingdale tested positive yesterday after symptom onset during the day. This moves one classroom into remote learning.
2) An education staff member (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive after a work exposure, and is currently asymptomatic.

– Hyde Center Campus (MHC) 1) An administrative staff member (vaccinated/boosted) who works at the Geneva campus tested positive for COVID today via rapid test after developing symptoms yesterday. This person did not have any contact with residents, community clients or students; contact tracing for staff is completed. PCR is pending. Was last on campus Monday, Jan. 3.

• Resident cases in Elgin

Three residents at MWC tested positive yesterday evening after developing mild symptoms. They are all vaccinated/boosted and resident on the North Side.
One other resident (unvaccinated) who tested positive earlier in the week has been admitted to the hospital due to the development of more severe symptoms. We pray that the resident responds as quickly to treatment as did our resident from Geneva.

Effective Jan. 5, 2022

• Additional staff testing positive

– Wasmond Center (MWC): 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated, not boosted), tested positive today after symptom onset. This person last worked overnight Saturday/Sunday. Jan. 1-2.
– Richard Home (MRH): 1) A direct care staff had symptom onset on 1/2/22, tested negative via rapid at that time, but the PCR from that day just came back positive.  This employee (vaccinated/not boosted) is still having moderate symptoms.

• New Resident cases in Geneva

Three residents at the Dreher Home (MDH) tested positive today during outbreak testing. They are all vaccinated and boosted but are currently asymptomatic.

Effective Jan. 4, 2022

• Positive staff cases continue

We have reports of more staff testing positive, but fortunately they are either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms. In a couple of cases, we are implementing Crisis Staffing per IDPH guidelines to allow those employees who are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms to work and keep us in compliance with state regulations. Be assured, in these cases, the staff are wearing N95 masks as added protection. With the number of other employees scheduled to return due to ending isolation periods, we are hopeful the need for crisis staffing is short-term.
– Wasmond Center (MWC): 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated, not boosted), tested positive today during outbreak testing after working the night shift last night. Currently asymptomatic.
2-3) Two direct care staff (vaccinated, not boosted) tested positive during outbreak testing, and are also asymptomatic. They worked for a short time today as well as Sunday/Monday shifts.
4) A fourth direct care employee (vaccinated, not boosted), tested positive today during outbreak testing. This person is asymptomatic currently and last worked the PM shift yesterday, Jan. 3.

– Tommy Home (MTH): 1-2) Two direct care employees (vaccinated/not boosted) developed mild symptoms last week, had negative tests then, but tested positive yesterday while working. Both had COVID last fall. Current symptoms are resolving.

– Dreher Home (MDH): 1) An IHR direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive after symptom onset. This person last worked Sunday overnight shift.

– Richard Home (MRH): 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive today after symptom onset. Last worked PM shift on Jan. 3.

• New Resident cases at MWC

Three North Side residents at the Wasmond Center have developed mild symptoms and tested positive today. One is vaccinated but has not reached the 2-week-post-vaccine date yet, and the other two are unvaccinated.

We are seeing that the majority of positive cases involve staff or residents who have not received the COVID booster vaccine. I would like to encourage those who have not yet gotten it to please reconsider, as it may not prevent you from getting COVID, but it should prevent you from getting seriously ill.

Effective Jan. 3, 2022

With the county COVID positivity rates reaching just above 15% for Cook, DuPage and Kane, it is no surprise that the spike of cases continue at each of our locations. Fortunately, previously quarantining staff continue to be able to return.

• Additional staff cases

– Wasmond Center (MWC): 1) A direct care employee (vaccinated, not boosted), was exposed to positive resident last week, developed symptoms and asked to be tested.  Rapid positive, PCR pending.  Worked beginning of shift today.
2) Another direct care staff (unvaccinated), began experiencing symptoms today while briefly onsite. Rapid test positive, PCR pending.  Last full shift Dec 30.
3) A third direct care employee (vaccinated, not boosted), tested positive at an outside facility.  Has not worked this pay period, so not a facility-based case.
4) Another direct care staff member (unvaccinated) developed symptoms and tested positive offsite. Last shift was Friday, Dec. 31.

– Richard Home (MRH): 1) A direct care staff (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive symptom onset. This person last worked Sunday, Jan. 2.

– Hyde Center (MHC): 1) A member of the Support Services staff (vaccinated/not boosted), tested positive today, after symptom onset. Last worked Thursday, Dec. 30.
2) A new employee attending orientation (vaccine status unknown) tested positive during orientee testing. This is not considered a facility-based case.
3) A member of Support Services (fully vaccinated) reported mild symptoms and had a positive rapid test. PCR is pending. Last shift was on Friday, Dec. 31.
4) Another Hyde Center direct care staff member (fully vaccinated) tested positive during outbreak testing. Last shift was Thursday, Dec. 30.

– Tommy Home (MTH): 1) One direct care staff (unvaccinated) developed symptoms Friday; tested positive today. This person last worked Dec. 30.
– Dreher Home (MDH): 1) A direct care staff (vaccinated, not boosted) tested positive during outbreak testing. One mild symptom. Last worked Friday, Dec. 31.
– Marklund Day School-Geneva (MDS) – 1) An Education staff member (unvaccinated) tested positive during surveillance testing. Last worked Dec. 17.

• Resident case status

Awesome news. The Geneva resident that was hospitalized yesterday is responding very well to treatment! This is a true testament to how well the nursing staff assessed the situation and responded to the resident’s medical needs!

Effective Jan. 2, 2022

• Additional staff positive cases

– Wasmond Center (MWC): Direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted), tested positive after requesting a test upon arrival to work.  Last worked Thursday, Dec. 30.
– Richard Home (MRH): 1 direct care staff (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive during outbreak testing and subsequently developed mild symptoms. This person last worked Thursday, Dec. 30. A second direct care staff (vaccinated/not boosted) also tested positive today after symptom onset, and last worked yesterday, Jan. 1. A third staff (vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive today, has mild symptoms, and was last onsite Thursday, Dec. 30.
– Hyde Center (MHC): An administration employee tested positive offsite after developing symptoms. This person, who is vaccinated/not boosted, last worked Thursday, Dec. 30.

• Additional resident positive cases

– MWC: 3 residents: 2 unvaccinated, 1 vaccinated/not boosted, tested positive due to onset of symptoms.
– MPC: 1 resident, unvaccinated, tested positive after developing mild symptoms
– MTH: 1 resident, vaccinated/not boosted, was admitted to the hospital after developing serious symptoms.

Effective Jan. 1, 2022

• 2 new cases to report

– RESIDENT: Wasmond Center (MWC): One resident who is partially vaccinated tested positive after onset of mild symptoms.
– STAFF: Dreher Home (MDH): A direct care employee (vaccinated/not boosted) left early due to what was assumed to be unrelated symptoms but later tested positive offsite.

Effective Dec. 31, 2021

• Positive cases continue; other staff returning

As seven additional staff tested positive for COVID, 5 others are able to return to work after completing required quarantine protocol.
– Wasmond Center (MWC):
* Two direct care staff (vaccinated/not boosted), are asymptomatic
* One direct care staff (vaccinated/not boosted) has symptoms
* One direct care staff (unvaccinated) has symptoms
* One direct care staff (unvaccinated) had an offsite exposure, is asymptomatic
– Geneva campus:
* 1 direct care staff at Haverkampf Home (MHH) tested positive after a community exposure.  This employee is asymptomatic (vaccinated/not boosted).
* 1 direct care staff at VanDerMolen Home (MVH) (vaccinated/not boosted), tested positive after symptom onset.  This employee has not worked this week.

• Resident cases

Three additional residents at the Wasmond Center tested positive today. One is symptomatic. The other two are asymptomatic and were discovered during outbreak testing. Two are vaccinated, one is not.
Previously mentioned cases: The three positive residents at the Hyde Center campus are stable; two asymptomatic, one with mild symptoms. The other positive resident at MWC continues to experience symptoms and is still being cared for on-site.

• Staffing adjustments

Due to the continued rise in positive cases among staff, Marklund’s administration is prepared to enter into Crisis Staffing. According to IDPH, when staffing shortages occur, healthcare facilities and employers may need to implement crisis capacity strategies to continue to provide patient care. This would entail bringing staff back prior to Day 6 of their isolation period. Of course, we would assess staff and bring back vaccinated, asymptomatic staff early as our first priority. Then if we needed to continue, we would assess our staff to bring back mildly symptomatic, vaccinated staff, then asymptomatic unvaccinated staff who have completed the longest isolation period since their positive test. We will inform parents/guardians and staff if we activate that level of contingency staffing.

Effective Dec. 30, 2021

• Additional staff cases at all sites

Nine additional staff tested positive for COVID, only five of which are facility-based cases.
– Day School-Bloomingdale (MDS): 2 direct care staff, both vaccinated/not boosted. Both are experiencing mild symptoms. Neither has been onsite for many days.
– Philip Center (MPC): 1 direct care staff, vaccinated/not boosted, last worked Tuesday and developed symptoms yesterday. In addition, we received lab confirmation that the presumed positive case that we reported yesterday is positive.
– Hyde Center (MHC): 1 support services staff, vaccinated/not boosted, tested out of state after developing symptoms.
– Haverkampf Home (MHH): 1 direct care employee, vaccinated/not boosted, tested positive today after learning of community exposure. This person is asymptomatic.
– Dreher Home (MDH): 1 direct care staff, vaccinated/not boosted, tested positive today after developing symptoms. PCR result is pending. This person last worked Dec. 28.
– Wasmond Center (MWC): 3 direct care staff (all vaccinated/not boosted) tested positive, 2 of which were discovered during outbreak testing and are asymptomatic. The third developed symptoms yesterday and last worked on Dec. 28.

• Resident case in Geneva

One additional resident on the Geneva campus tested positive today after developing mild symptoms. This resident lives at the Tommy Home (MTH) and is vaccinated/boosted.

 

Effective Dec. 29, 2021

• New positive cases among staff

We have reports of 4 additional staff testing positive for COVID.
– Philip Center (MPC): 2 direct care staff, both vaccinated/not boosted. One is asymptomatic, and the other has mild symptoms. This person is considered presumed positive after taking a home test, and has followed up with a PCR test taken offsite.
– Hyde Center (MHC): 1 administrative employee, vaccinated/not boosted. This person is asymptomatic after having a community exposure.
– Sayers Home (MSH): We have lab confirmation that the presumed positive case that we reported a couple days ago is in fact positive.

• Resident cases in Geneva and Elgin

Three Marklund residents have tested positive today, two in Geneva, one in Elgin.
– Sayers Home (MSH): Resident is asymptomatic, vaccinated/boosted.
– VanDerMolen Home (MVH): Resident is asymptomatic, unvaccinated.
– Wasmond Center (MWC): Unvaccinated due to age, this resident has developed symptoms after an exposure to a visitor who subsequently tested positive.

Effective Dec. 28, 2021

• Multiple positive cases with Elgin staff

The Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin is reporting multiple positive cases among staff today. Of the eight staff involved, four are asymptomatic, and one just started developing mild symptoms. They were discovered through the outbreak testing. The others were tested after becoming symptomatic. All are vaccinated but have not had the booster; seven are in direct care and one is support staff.

• New positive case reported in Geneva

A direct care employee from the Marklund Richard Home (MRH) on the Geneva campus tested positive today during Outbreak testing. This person is vaccinated but not boosted, and is experiencing mild symptoms. (We are still waiting for official word on two presumed positive staff cases that were reported on in yesterday’s update.)

• Positive case at Marklund Day School

A teacher at the Marklund Day School-Bloomingdale (MDS) tested positive today after symptom onset a few days ago. This staff member, who is vaccinated but not boosted, has not been on campus since the school shut down for the holidays on Friday, Dec. 17.

• Resident testing

The good news: All residents at MWC and MHC have tested negative this week!

• New guidelines

Marklund will be aligning our policies and protocols with CDC’s latest recommendation for staff quarantine and testing guidelines for symptoms and exposure. These changes will allow us to get staff back to work faster while still maintaining the safety of all residents and staff. Management staff has received details on the new criteria via email from Wendy Berk, HIPAA/Compliance Officer.

 

Effective Dec. 27, 2021

• Multiple staff positives in Geneva

Further proving that the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is HIGHLY contagious, we have reports of many staff in Geneva that have either tested positive and are asymptomatic, or have become mildly/moderately symptomatic and then tested positive. Some are facility exposures while others are community exposures.Fortunately, we continue to have amazing staff who are making adjustments in their routines and schedules to accommodate these unexpected openings.

As of late last night, new positive cases include:
– Tommy Home (MTH) direct care staff: Vaccinated/not boosted/asymptomatic
– Dreher Home (MDH) direct care staff; unvaccinated/asymptomatic
– Hyde Center (MHC) admin staff: vaccinated/boosted/symptomatic
– Hyde Center (MHC) support staff: presumed positive, vaccinated/no booster/symptomatic
– Sayers Home (MSH) direct care staff: vaccinated/not boosted/symptomatic
– Multi-site support staff: vaccinated, not boosted/symptomatic
– MDH and VanDerMolen (MVH) In-House Registry (IHR): vaccinated/not boosted/asymptomatic.

Effective Dec. 26, 2021

• Two positive staff cases in Elgin

This morning, two different direct care staff at the Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC) tested positive for COVID. The first one, who is vaccinated (no booster), felt ill upon arrival and received a rapid test prior to starting the shift. The second employee (unvaccinated) had a positive test offsite. Both had worked last on Friday, Dec. 24, but in different units. Having these two positive cases moves MWC into Outbreak Status and requires broad-based testing of all residents and staff. MWC will be out of Outbreak on Jan. 10 if no other cases develop.

• Positive administrative and direct care cases in Geneva

A staff member who works in the administration wing at the Marklund Hyde Center also received positive test results for COVID. This person (vaccinated/no booster) last worked on Wednesday, Dec. 22, and was tested at a physician’s office after developing some symptoms. Contact tracing has been completed.
In addition, a direct care employee (vaccinated/no booster) tested positive today for COVID after symptom onset.  This person, who tested offsite, last worked in the Marklund Dreher Home (MDH) yesterday, which resets its outbreak status end date at Jan. 10.

Effective Dec. 24, 2021

• New positive staff in Geneva

Yesterday evening, an employee began to feel ill while working the PM shift at the Marklund Haverkampf home (MHH), was rapid tested and sent home; the rapid came back positive. This person, who is vaccinated, is following up with a PCR test for confirmation. This resets Haverkampf’s outbreak status – with no additional positives they will be out of outbreak on January 7, 2022.

We would like to encourage those who have not yet gotten the booster vaccine to do so, as it appears to reduce symptoms of this Omicron variant.

Effective Dec. 22, 2021

• Additional new cases in Geneva

Three additional employees from the Geneva campus have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus today. One is an unvaccinated direct care staff who last worked in the Marklund VanDerMolen (MVH) home on Monday before becoming symptomatic. The rapid test was initially negative but a lab-based PCR confirmed positive results. This moves the Outbreak Status for MVH to Jan. 4.
The second is a vaccinated direct care staff member who works in the Marklund Sayers Home (MSH). This person became symptomatic today and had an offsite rapid test come back positive. A PCR test has been taken to confirm results. The Outbreak Status for MSH has been moved to Jan. 6.
The third is a vaccinated member of the administration staff who had mild symptoms and a positive rapid test. A PCR test has been taken to confirm results. Contact tracing has been completed to identify any other admin staff who may have been exposed.

Effective Dec. 21, 2021

• New case in Geneva

A vaccinated employee from the Geneva campus tested positive yesterday after a community exposure. This person worked at the Marklund Dreher Home (MDH) on Monday. This pushes the Outbreak Status for MDH through Jan. 4, if no additional cases are discovered. Residents are still being tested as part of the broad-based approach since all homes are on Outbreak.
All other homes on the Geneva campus will remain on Outbreak through Jan. 1, and the Philip Center through Jan 2, barring new cases.

Effective Dec. 19, 2021

• Positive staff in Bloomingdale

An employee who works out of the Bloomingdale campus with residents and students tested positive yesterday for COVID-19 after learning of an offsite exposure. This person, who is vaccinated and asymptomatic, did a home rapid test and followed it up with a rapid test at a clinic, both which were positive. We are awaiting lab results from a PCR test.
Since this staff member had worked with Philip Center residents and Marklund Day School students during the 48 hours prior to testing positive, the Philip Center has been moved into Outbreak Status. MPC residents have already completed one round of testing with no additional positive cases discovered. Testing of all staff should be completed by Monday night.
At this point, parents/guardians may still visit residents this week, and participate in planned gift opening activities, following masking/social distancing protocol. Vaccinated residents are able to go home for holidays.
The school’s administration is alerting parents of students who may have been exposed. Marklund Day School is on winter break for the next two weeks.

Effective Dec. 18, 2021

• Additional staff case in Geneva

Last night, another In-House Registry (IHR) employee on the Geneva campus tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. This person is vaccinated and asymptomatic, and was being tested due to the Outbreak Status at MVH.
As stated yesterday, all homes on the Geneva Campus are in Outbreak Status, and as a result, all employees — direct care staff, therapy, maintenance and housekeeping —that work in those facilities will have to be tested.
Again, we are allowing in-room visitation with residents during this period. Any fully vaccinated residents who test negative after the first round of testing on Monday and remain asymptomatic will be allowed to go home for the holiday if scheduled to do so.
It is our utmost goal to do whatever we can to keep our residents and staff safe while still allowing families to celebrate the holidays together.

Community Day Services
Community clients in our Geneva CDS program have not been affected by this outbreak and may attend classes Monday.

Effective Dec. 17 2021

• New positive staff cases in Geneva

We just received word of two additional staff cases at the Hyde Center in Geneva.
First, an unvaccinated staff member tested positive during rapid surveillance testing today. This person, who is currently asymptomatic, will have a PCR test ASAP to have a lab confirm the results. The employee worked in CDS classrooms 1, 3 and 5 over the past couple of days as well as assisted with bathing in all homes on the Geneva campus other than Van Der Molen (MVH).

In the second case, a vaccinated employee through our In-House Registry tested positive after developing symptoms. This person worked in Marklund Sayers Home (MSH) this week.

As a result of the two new cases, all homes on the Geneva Campus are in Outbreak Status. Haverkampf Home (MHH), Sayers Home (MSH), Tommy Home (MTH), Dreher Home (MDH) and Richard Home (MRH) will remain on outbreak until at least Dec. 31. The homes could return to normal status on New Year’s Day, 1/1/2022, if no additional cases emerge in any of the facilities prior to that.
Having two cases moves us from being able to use the “unit-based” approach for contact tracing, into a “broad-based” approach, which means all employees that work in those facilities will have to be tested, not just any who worked on the same shift/had close contact/etc. Please note: All homes may allow in-room visitation during this period for all residents. Any fully vaccinated residents who test negative after the first round of testing on Monday and remain asymptomatic will be allowed to go home for the holiday if scheduled to do so.

Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH), which had a previous case, will continue to be on Outbreak Status until Dec. 29, presuming no further positives develop.

Effective Dec. 15, 2021

• Positive staff case in Geneva

A vaccinated support staff on the Marklund Hyde Center in Geneva tested positive for COVID yesterday after having an offsite exposure. This person is asymptomatic at this time, and did work Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 13 and 14, in the Marklund Van Der Molen Home (MVH). This puts MVH in Outbreak status.
Contact tracing has begun to determine close contacts and will be followed up with necessary testing. MVH will remain in Outbreak until all residents and any affected staff have two rounds of negative test results.
We will update everyone if additional cases are discovered.• Status of previous cases—all clear

All other Marklund residential sites that have recently experienced positive cases are no longer on Outbreak status. Staff that need to travel between sites may again do so.

Effective Dec. 10, 2021

• Administrative employee tests positive in Geneva

An unvaccinated administrative staff member who works at the Marklund Hyde Center in Geneva tested positive for COVID today after taking part in surveillance testing. This person is asymptomatic and did not have any contact with residents or community clients.
Contact tracing has begun for identifying staff who may have had close contact, which does look to be minimal.

Effective Dec. 6, 2021:

• Positive cases at Day School in Geneva

A teacher and student from the same Life Skills classroom at Marklund Day School-Geneva tested positive for the COVID-19 virus over the weekend. An additional student is experiencing COVID-like symptoms and is being tested.
This has put the school into Outbreak status. As a result, any student or staff member who report COVID-like symptoms will be required to obtain a negative PCR test prior to returning to school or remain home for 10 calendar days from the onset of symptoms.
Day School administration has notified individuals who have been identified through contact tracing as having been exposed to the positive cases. All unvaccinated individuals who were in close contact are required to remain home for 14 calendar days after the last date of exposure to the positive COVID-19 case, per requirements from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Students in this situation will do remote learning.
Any Marklund staff from other locations/departments are advised to try to avoid going to that Day School site if possible to reduce the risk or transmission while it is on Outbreak. Zooming or rescheduling meetings is recommended. Those from other departments that do need to enter student areas should wear N-95 masks and face shields until the outbreak is ended.

 

Effective Dec. 3, 2021:

• Administrative employee tests positive in Geneva

An administrative staff member who works at the Geneva campus tested positive for COVID today after developing symptoms. This person is vaccinated and did not have any contact with residents, community clients or students within the 48-hour window of symptom outbreak. Contact tracing has begun and testing arrangements are being made with staff who were in close contact.
No additional cases have been reported.

Effective Dec. 1, 2021:

• Residents test positive on Geneva campus

Testing of residents at the Marklund Haverkampf Home (MHH) in Geneva this morning discovered 5 positive cases — fortunately all are fully vaccinated and are asymptomatic. This extends the Outbreak Status for MHH until Dec. 14.
Testing was completed on all residents following the positive staff case from last Friday, which is required procedure. However, we also received word today that a family member who visited on Sunday was symptomatic for two days prior to the visit but had not shared that information on Sunday. In addition, a number of the residents went home for the holiday. So it is difficult to say how the residents contracted the virus. Therefore, to err on the side of caution, we are reminding all family members that they should be symptom free for 48 hours prior to visiting or bringing residents home, so as not to put residents, most of whom cannot wear masks, at risk.

• Outbreak Updates

No additional cases have been found at any of the other Marklund homes. The Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin will stay on Outbreak Status until Dec. 6, and the Richard Home (MRH) in Geneva until Dec. 7, as long as no new positives show up at either.

Effective Nov. 28, 2021

• Positive case on Geneva campus

We received word that a staff member who works in the Community Day Services (CDS) program at the Marklund Hyde Center in Geneva tested positive yesterday after having a minor symptom onset on Friday. This person, who is fully vaccinated, works with residents from Marklund Haverkampf Home, so this puts that home on Outbreak Status. Contact tracing from Friday’s shift has begun and a testing plan has been put in place for MHH residents and those staff who had close contact with the positive employee.
Community Clients have not been affected by the positive staff in the CDS program and may attend the day program unless otherwise notified.

• Status of previous cases

Thankfully, no additional staff or residents showed positive results from the testing at our Geneva and Elgin sites following last week’s staff positive cases.

Unfortunately we are seeing an uptick of positive cases, even in fully vaccinated staff. This is not completely unexpected with the change in weather and people spending more time indoors.
According to the CDC, a vaccine breakthrough infection happens when a fully vaccinated person gets infected with COVID-19. The vaccines are effective at preventing most infections, however, they are not 100% effective. CDC studies show that fully vaccinated people with a vaccine breakthrough infections are less likely to develop serious illness and be hospitalized than those who are unvaccinated and get the virus. However, people with vaccine breakthrough infections may still spread COVID-19 to others.
The CDC also recently reported that even if you are fully vaccinated, if you live or work in an area with substantial or high transmission  levels—as we do at all of our Marklund locations—you will be better protected if you wear a mask when you are in all indoor public places.
I continue to be very thankful for our staff who have been working so hard caring for our residents throughout the pandemic, and especially during these outbreaks. They are true heroes!

Effective Nov. 22, 2021

• Positive case at Geneva campus

A vaccinated staff member who works at the Geneva campus received a positive test result for COVID today after developing minor COVID-like symptoms while on-site. This individual works with residents at the Richard (MRH) and Van Der Molen (MVH) homes on the campus, as well as with those residents while in the Community Day Services classrooms at the Hyde Center. We have begun testing residents of both homes as well as contact tracing CDS staff in attendance today, in addition to MVH staff who worked in the home on Saturday since this person had picked up a shift there.

• Positive case at Wasmond Center

An IHR staff member (fully vaccinated) become symptomatic after her shift at Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin on Saturday and received a positive result today.  MWC nursing staff is working on contact tracing of Saturday’s staff and testing residents on the home’s South Side.

Unfortunately these break-through cases put Richard and Van Der Molen homes as well as South Side of Wasmond Center on Outbreak Status which puts a pause on group activities, communal dining and outings until at least Dec. 6 for MWC and Dec. 7 for MRH and MVH. In-room visits are being allowed at MRH, MVH and on the South Side at MWC. (North Side visitation allowed in regular designated visitation areas.)

Effective Nov. 9, 2021

• Positive case at Day School-Elgin

A staff member at Marklund Day School-Elgin, which is located inside the Wasmond Center (MWC) tested positive for COVID. This person became symptomatic Sunday evening and received the positive test result late Monday. Since she had not been in the building within the 48 hours prior to noticing her symptoms, we do not need to do contact tracing for staff at the school or in MWC. However, the classroom at MDS-Elgin will change to remote learning as of tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 10, for the duration of the affected staff member’s 10-day quarantine period.

• Status at Geneva campus

After two rounds of testing and all negative results, Tommy Home is no longer in Outbreak Status. The most recent (and hopefully last) round of testing on staff and residents at Sayers Home has been completed and results are pending. Thankfully, the resident who had a positive test last week appears to be fine and will be out of isolation tomorrow.

Effective Nov. 1, 2021

• Resident positive adds to cases at Geneva campus

We received a positive result for one of the Sayers Home residents from the PCR tests completed on all in Sayers and Tommy home last Friday. This individual, who is in good spirits without apparent symptoms, is being cared for in isolation.
Regarding staff cases mentioned in last Friday’s Update, laboratory-based PCR tests confirmed the two employees who tested positive with rapid tests late last week. The third employee who reported COVID-like symptoms, received a negative result from a rapid test, and is still awaiting news on the PCR test.
Tommy and Sayers homes will continue to be in Outbreak Status until all residents and any employees who were exposed from those homes report two rounds of negative test results.

• Positive cases in Wasmond Administration

An administrative staff member at Wasmond Center received a positive test result yesterday after becoming symptomatic late Friday. Contact tracing has begun for staff, however, since this person did not have any connection with residents, none of them will need to be tested. Wasmond Center will not need to go into Outbreak Status.

Effective Oct. 29, 2021

• Positive cases at Geneva campus

Three employees who work in the Sayers and Tommy homes at the Hyde Center campus in Geneva have either tested positive for COVID or are symptomatic and awaiting results.
One staff member tested positive for COVID yesterday afternoon with an over-the-counter self-administered test. This person, who is unvaccinated, last worked yesterday in the CDS classrooms with residents from Sayers and Tommy homes and experienced a sudden, unexpected onset of symptoms. The staff member is awaiting new results from a lab-based PCR test.
As a precaution while waiting for those results, we have completed PCR tests on all residents from both homes and on staff who were identified through contact tracing as those who may have been exposed. Through that testing, a second staff member tested positive. This employee is vaccinated and currently asymptomatic
A third employee who also works at Tommy Home called in this morning with COVID-like symptoms, and we are awaiting test results on that case.
This puts Tommy and Sayers homes into Outbreak Status. Visitation has been restricted to outdoor and virtual only, and day passes are temporarily on hold.

Effective Oct. 6, 2021

• Positive resident cases at Geneva campus

Two residents of the Marklund Richard Home (MRH) on the Geneva campus have tested positive for COVID. Fortunately, both are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic at this time. They will be placed in isolation together in the same room.
All residents at MRH and the Marklund Dreher Home (MDH) were tested due to the homes being placed on Outbreak Status. I’m happy to report that all tests for MDH residents came back negative.
Per Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) regulations, residents in both homes will need to have two rounds of negative test results before they are able to go back to the Hyde Center for CDS programming, go on outings and have indoor visitors.
Contact tracing for staff who have been in close contact with these two residents has also been completed and testing underway for staff who worked in MRH over the past 48 hours.
I’m so grateful for all of our dedicated staff for caring for our residents, especially during these challenging times.

Effective Oct. 4, 2021

• Positive case at Geneva Campus

We have been informed that an employee working at the Hyde Center campus has tested positive for COVID-19. This person, who is unvaccinated, worked Thursday night at the Richard (MRH) and Dreher (MDH) homes, and had an offsite lab test completed.
Due to this positive case, both MRH and MDH have been placed on outbreak status. All residents of those homes are being PCR tested today while staff will have rapid tests. Contact tracing for staff who worked that overnight shift has been completed.
Community Day Services (CDS) for the residents of the two affected homes will be held in the homes until two rounds of negative tests taken five to seven days apart are obtained for those residents.
Outings and day passes have been suspended and visits will be restricted to outdoor on the patio for the time being.

Effective Oct. 1, 2021

• Positive case at Wasmond Center

A vaccinated employee at the Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC) tested positive for COVID-19 after being exposed to the virus at home. This person last worked Thursday, Sept. 30 in both the residential and CDS, had tested negative prior to working the shift, and became symptomatic later in the evening. An independent offsite test confirmed the positive result.
Due to this positive case, MWC will need to go on outbreak status. Contact tracing will be conducted to determine if any individuals had been within 6 feet of this staff person for a total of 15 minutes or more. Rapid testing is being completed on all residents who may been in contact with the employee.
Per IDPH guidelines, when a vaccinated staff member has a home-based exposure, we test the employee often following a rigid schedule: First within two days post exposure, then again five to seven days post exposure, then on the last day of the positive person’s isolation period, and then weekly for the next 14 days (so at least two more tests) after that.  This staff member had been exposed as of Tuesday so we tested Thursday for the first test, which, as stated earlier, was negative.

Effective Sept. 9, 2021

• Vaccine or Test option pushed to 9/19/21

Gov. Pritzker’s Executive Order that gives all staff the option to choose whether to get vaccinated or be regularly tested has been pushed back to the week of Sept. 19. In addition, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) has made new requirements regarding testing procedures for unvaccinated staff at long-term-care facilities. Therefore, each week starting the week of the 19th, any unvaccinated employees working at any Marklund location—residential and school—will need to provide proof of a PCR test taken at an offsite location. The tests will need to be completed on the employee’s own time and at his or her own expense if a co-pay is required at the testing site. Visit the IDPH website to review the list of state-supported COVID-19 testing sites, which are free (https://www.dph.illinois.gov/testing ). The testing requirement may be increased to more often if we see a rise in positive cases or if IDPH or ISBE (IL State Board of Education) recommend more frequent testing. This new procedure will replace the regular surveillance testing offered on-site at Marklund.
*Those who receive at least the first dose of the vaccine prior to Sept. 19, will only need to do on-site rapid testing. If a second dose is required it must be done within 30 days.*
Failure to be tested or produce required documentation will result in an unpaid suspension and developmental action, up to and including termination.
Please note that these requirements may change based on guidelines for the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate which are expected to be released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by the end of the month.

• Proper PPE usage reminder
  

Along with the vaccine, following proper masking procedures also works to prevent the spread of the virus. This means having the mask completely pinched above the nose and resting below the mouth. Masks must be worn at all times indoors, the only exceptions being when at your workspace and six feet from all others, or while eating/drinking and maintaining six-foot distance. Masks must always be worn walking through a Marklund facility. Improper adherence to this procedure has resulted in Development Action.

Effective Sept. 1, 2021

• Vaccine or Test option in place
  

While we are still waiting for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to release its requirements and processes regarding the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate, we will follow Gov. Pritzker’s Executive Order that gives all staff the option to choose whether to get vaccinated or be regularly tested. Therefore, effective immediately, any unvaccinated employees working at any Marklund location will need to have a rapid test completed on-site at a minimum of once a week. This may be increased to more often if we see an increase in positive cases or if IDPH or ISBE (IL State Board of Education) recommend more frequent testing.
Employees will not be required to submit for an exemption (medical or religious) regarding vaccination at this moment. However, our HR team is working with legal counsel in developing policies regarding applying for exemptions in anticipation that we may need them for the CMS vaccine mandate guidance later this month.
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) helped create the Governor’s executive order, and has noted that it may also mandate increased PPE or more frequent testing for all unvaccinated individuals who work in our settings.

• No mandate for flu vaccine

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has declared that the COVID-19 virus poses a “direct threat, due to a “significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of others,” which makes it legal for organizations to mandate the vaccine. However, since no direct threat has been declared by the EEOC regarding the flu, we are not making the flu vaccine mandatory. We do encourage all to get that shot if medically able, to protect themselves, their families, our staff, residents and students.

Effective Aug. 30, 2021

• COVID-19 outbreak at day school in Bloomingdale
  

This morning, we received confirmation that two vaccinated staff members and one student at the Marklund Day School in Bloomingdale have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, we have one probable case of another vaccinated staff member who is awaiting lab results of a COVID test. This puts the Day School into Outbreak status. Two Life Skills classrooms in the school’s Ann Haskins Center have moved to full remote learning. A third classroom in the Multi-Needs program, located in the lower level of the Philip Center, will also go full remote as a precaution.
Contact tracing has been completed for staff and students, and all parents notified of the situation, as has DuPage County Health Department.
As we have throughout the pandemic, we are continuing with our regimen of screening staff upon entry each morning, and all unvaccinated staff will be tested weekly. In addition, administration requires staff to report to the nurse during the day if they have any onset of symptoms.
All employees at all facilities are still required to wear appropriate PPE including face masks. In addition, Multi-Needs staff wear face shields/eye protection. Affected classrooms have been sanitized per our mitigation protocol.

• Adjust on-site meetings to virtual
  

Given the current COVID situation at the Bloomingdale and Geneva Day School locations, effective immediately all meetings with school staff should be conducted remotely via ZOOM instead of on-site in the school buildings.
In addition, staff (i.e. Maintenance, Environmental Services, or Therapy) that work in other Marklund locations including the residential areas who need to go to the school buildings must wear face shields/goggles and N95 masks while at the school sites. Any of these staff who are not yet fit-tested for N95s and who absolutely need to go in the school should either go after school hours or make sure to maintain at least a six-foot distance from everyone. Any non-essential activities or projects should be rescheduled for the time being.

Effective Aug. 20, 2021

• Positive case at Marklund Day School-Geneva:

We received confirmation that a staff member at the Foglia Education Center at Marklund Day School-Geneva tested positive today. This person is unvaccinated and developed symptoms in route to work this morning. Marklund nursing staff completed a rapid test prior to the individual entering the building, and the staff member was sent home. Contact tracing has been completed and testing completed on any other staff who may have been exposed.
Parents of students in the three classrooms that are affected were contacted to pick up their children; these students will do full remote learning during the required quarantine period, per our mitigation plan and guidance from the Kane County Health Department.

We are still awaiting final guidance regarding the government’s vaccine mandate for all healthcare workers, which we hope to be able to share with everyone soon.

Effective Aug. 19, 2021

• Information about vaccine mandate:

As you may have already heard, the federal government, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has announced that all staff at long-term-care facilities must be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order for the facility to continue receiving federal funding from Medicare and Medicaid. Marklund does receive funding from those programs, and is required to follow CMS regulations. CMS is part of the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
At this point, we do not have any specifics regarding this mandate. We do not know if it will be just for those specifically working in direct care, or everyone. We also do not know if there will be any exceptions.
We are waiting for the official word, and will share more information as soon as it is available.

Effective Aug. 18, 2021

• Two positive staff cases in Geneva:

A non-direct-care employee at the Marklund Hyde Center tested positive today for COVID-19 after developing minor symptoms while at work this morning. The employee was given a rapid test on site and sent home. This employee, who was vaccinated, will have a laboratory test to confirm the results. Contact tracing has begun and any other staff that may have been affected have been notified to be tested.
Again, as a non-direct-care employee, she had not been around any residents or community clients or in any of the homes, and wears a mask when in the Hyde Center, according to our current policy. None of the homes will need to be placed in outbreak status.
A vaccinated staff member at the Foglia Education Center at Marklund Day School-Geneva informed supervisors this morning that she tested positive for COVID.-19  This employee has been offsite for the last two weeks, so this is not a facility-based cased and does not affect the school nor any of the residential facilities.
Unfortunately, as we have stated previously, vaccinated individuals can experience breakthrough cases. However, studies continue to show those cases do not become serious, which indicates that the vaccine is doing its job.

• Positive case in Bloomingdale:

An unvaccinated staff member at the Marklund Philip Center tested positive for COVID after domestic travel and has developed serious symptoms and complications from the virus. This person had been offsite during a travel-quarantine period and was tested independently. This does not put MPC into outbreak status.

• Marklund areas still report high levels of transmission:

Kane, DuPage and Cook counties remain as areas with HIGH levels of transmission for COVID-19. We continue to watch the data closely and will inform everyone if we need to implemnt any additional changes to our policies and procedures.

 

Effective Aug. 11, 2021

• Suspending overnight passes:

Due to the increase in COVID-19 positivity rates in our area and the concerns over the new Delta Variant, we have decided it is in the best interest of residents and staff to put a temporary hold on all overnight passes for residents. IDPH is requiring long-term-care facilities to quarantine residents for 14 days once they return from an offsite stay that includes an overnight. That would mean keeping the resident in isolation and having staff wear full PPE including N95 masks and eye protection at every interaction with the resident. We felt that this would put a great deal of additional strain on our staff. On-site visits are still being allowed, at this point in time, so please remember to schedule your visits in advance with the facility’s QIDP or Administrator.

• Update to Travel portion of the Modified Temporary Absence Policy:

Employees should make note of this change to Travel section in the Modified Temporary Absence Policy, which is intended to help staff return to work sooner: Staff who are not fully vaccinated as of their travel date are required to quarantine for 7 days after any out-of-state travel and return to work for their first scheduled shift on or after Day 8 with a negative test as long as they are asymptomatic. Please schedule your return COVID test at Marklund BEFORE leaving for your travel with the Campus Administrator or DON.
Additional information can be found in the full policy.

• All counties now at high levels of transmission:

All three counties in which Marklund has its facilities — Cook, DuPage, and Kane — are now considered to be areas with HIGH levels of transmission for COVID-19, much like the rest of the country. A county’s level of transmission is based on two metrics: new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people and the positivity rate, both measured over the last seven days. The basic idea is that these show how much virus is spreading around us, which is an important determinant of how much risk you’re in.

Effective Aug. 9, 2021

Revised Indoor Visitation Policy 8.9.21

Revised Outdoor Visitation Policy 8.9.21

Effective Aug. 5, 2021

• Masks mandatory for all:

Due to yesterday’s announcement by Gov. Pritzker mandating universal masking in all long-term-care organizations in Illinois regardless of vaccination status, we will be requiring masks be worn by all staff and visitors at all sites. The only exception is when employees are eating, and then they must keep a six-foot distance from other staff.
We are continuing to keep the health and safety of our residents, students and staff as a priority so while these changes are disappointing, we are doing it for the best reason.

• Schedule visits in advance:

As we have required before, indoor and outdoor visits need to be scheduled ahead of time. Parents/guardians/family members must contact the Marklund site’s QIDP or Administrator to pre-schedule a visit to give staff ample time to prepare the resident and be able to spread out visits at the location.

• County positivity rates:

Our administration and compliance teams continue to watch the county’s positivity rates very closely, as well as any COVID-related news coming out of IDPH, CDC and OSHA. If changes affect any programming, policies or procedure status, I will share the news as soon as possible.

Like everyone, I pray that this apparent increase in COVID cases in Illinois is temporary but it is clear we are not out of the woods just yet.

Effective July 23, 2021

• Geneva campus out of Outbreak Status:

As of today, July 23, the Richard and Van Der Molen homes on the Geneva campus are no longer on Outbreak Status. Fortunately there were no other positive resident or staff cases determined throughout the two rounds of testing. This means going back to wearing regular surgical masks rather than N95s, indoor and outdoor visitation can resume as can resident outings and communal dining.
Of course, we are still following IDPH, CDC and OSHA guidelines and will continue to screen all staff/visitors upon entry, and do monthly surveillance testing for unvaccinated staff.

Effective July 8, 2021

• Positive case in Geneva campus:

For the first time since May, we have a positive case at the Hyde Center campus in Geneva. A fully-vaccinated staff member had a negative rapid test onsite yesterday after returning from international travel but tested positive with a second rapid test today upon developing symptoms. This person was sent out to have an offsite lab test to confirm the results.
Contact tracing has begun for staff, residents, and the few volunteers who were onsite yesterday. It has been determined that residents from the Richard and Van Der Molen homes (MRH and MVH) were in contact with the employee yesterday during Community Day Services (CDS). Both homes are now in Outbreak Status, so all residents will be placed on transmission-based precautions and will be tested today, and again next Tuesday.

While on Outbreak Status, we need to temporarily suspend in-person visitation (both indoor and outdoor), resident outings and communal dining.
Staff and volunteers identified through contact tracing will be tested onsite as well. Be assured, all staff and volunteers continue to wear facemasks while with residents/students.
The vaccine is highly effective but not 100% which is why we have safety protocols in place beyond vaccinations. Please know that we are continuing to do all that we can to keep our staff and residents safe.
We will communicate with everyone if anything new develops.

Effective June 23, 2021

• Wasmond Center out of Outbreak:

Great news! After two complete rounds of testing of all residents and staff with no additional COVID-positive results, Marklund Wasmond Center is officially out of Outbreak Status. This means that MWC direct care employees are no longer required to wear N95 masks, just regular surgical masks. Eye protection (face shield or goggles) is also no longer required unless providing care to someone on droplet precaution.
Indoor and outdoor visitation is reinstated, as are outings, group activities, communal dining and beauty/barber services.
Monthly Surveillance Testing of unvaccinated staff will also resume.

I am very happy to share this news. With 75% of our staff vaccinated, we are hopeful to have fewer of these returns to outbreak status. I just want to reiterate that I hope that those who remain unvaccinated reconsider their decision, for their sake, as well as the health and safety of their coworkers and residents, particularly as we hear more news about the COVID variant spreading. Vaccines are very readily available at many pharmacies these days.

Effective June 11, 2021

• What “Illinois Reopening” means at Marklund:

I’m sure everyone is thrilled to see and hear the news that the State of Illinois is officially in Phase 5 which means fully reopened. After more than a year of learning how to maneuver through many restrictions, this is wonderful news.
I do, however, want to caution everyone that while this Reopening action will affect our personal lives, most things at Marklund are not changing just yet.
With the exception of no capacity limits on office usage (as long as distancing allows), we are still following such infection precaution guidelines as screening upon entry, wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, social distancing around unvaccinated staff and residents, regular testing as required, and not yet allowing volunteers in the buildings. When a site is in Outbreak Status, as the Wasmond Center is right now, even more restrictions are put in place.
These guidelines are given directly from IDPH and DHS, which, as a state-certified long-term-care facility, we are required to follow. We hope and pray, as the COVID positivity rates continue to go down everywhere, that these restrictions will be loosened in the not-too-distant future as well.

Effective June 10, 2021

• Positive Case at Wasmond Center:

An unvaccinated staff member at the Marklund Wasmond Center tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. This person last worked on Monday, June 7. Contact tracing and first-round testing has begun for staff. All residents will be tested today.
Unfortunately, this means the Wasmond Center is back in Outbreak Status and the following restrictions and protocol have been implemented:
– N95 masks and eye protection (face shield or goggles) must be worn by all healthcare providers while providing care or services in resident areas of the facility until outbreak status is discontinued.
– All indoor and outdoor visitation is temporarily suspended, with the exception of compassionate care visits.
– Outings, group activities, communal dining and beauty/barber services are temporarily suspended as well.
Wasmond Center staff should refer to an email sent by MWC Administrator Michelle Orwig to all staff Wednesday evening for specifics on testing schedule and additional staff requirements.
This is the first facility-based positive staff case at any Marklund location in more than a month. Clearly we are not out of the woods yet, although it is promising that cases have become few and far between. Even as the State of Illinois moves into Phase 5 this Friday, we will continue to follow all guidelines from IDPH and DHS.

Effective May 14, 2021

• Geneva resident tests positive from off-site exposure

A fully vaccinated resident who has been off campus for an extended home visit with family was exposed to the COVID virus during his visit. The resident, who is asymptomatic, has since tested positive for COVID-19 while under quarantine at home and will remain out of the facility until his quarantine period has ended.

• CDC news regarding mask wearing

Please note: while IDPH confirmed today that Illinois will follow the CDC guidance that fully-vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks indoors or outdoors, this new guidance does not yet apply to healthcare settings, including long-term care facilities like Marklund. While the news is exciting for everyone in their private lives, IDPH has stated we at Marklund should continue to follow the policies/procedures we have in place regarding wearing PPEs and social distancing.

• Important reminder for staff gatherings/meetings:

We expect all staff to make note of these regulations for when on-site:
If everyone is fully vaccinated, then they can meet/eat/sit closely without masks
If even one person in the group is not fully vaccinated, when not eating, everyone should be wearing masks.  At all times during a meeting/meal, the unvaccinated person should be at least six feet from others when someone’s mask is off (for example, if they are eating).

Effective May 12, 2021

• New Visitation FAQs and Updated Staff Policies

Based on the latest loosening of restrictions on Long-Term care facilities from IDPH and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid), we have updated our Visitation procedures as well as many staff policies.  Direct Care staff will receive the policies via email and in-services.
A few important notes for staff regarding testing and exposure to COVID:
(a) if you are fully vaccinated, you do not have to do surveillance testing, but you would still need to be tested during Outbreak Status or following a high-risk exposure;
(b) ALL staff, vaccinated or unvaccinated, need to continue to immediately report any known exposures, including community/home exposures, to Lisa Esposito.  Asymptomatic, vaccinated staff will need to schedule two exposure testings with their facility administrator – the first immediately following exposure and a retest between days 5-7 following exposure. Symptomatic, vaccinated staff and all unvaccinated staff with a known exposure do not need to schedule exposure testing and should follow the isolation/quarantine guidelines per the Modified Temporary Absence Policy.

• Update on Positive Case at Wasmond Center

The second round of testing of staff and residents at the Wasmond Center has resulted in all negative results. If no further cases develop, MWC will be out of Outbreak Status as of next Tuesday, May 18.

• Positive Non-facility-based case at Geneva

A staff member at the Hyde Center campus tested positive this week for COVID after experiencing symptoms. She was last on-site last Friday, May 7, so this is NOT a facility-onset case and does NOT put MHC into Outbreak Status.

• 100th Update!

This marks the 100th COVID Update released to staff and parents/guardians since last Spring. Throughout these 15 months, it has been my goal to keep everyone appraised of circumstances that have occurred at all of the Marklund sites, to help alleviate speculation, fears and rumors. We will continue to share these updates until we are in the “All Clear” from this pandemic.

 

Effective May 7, 2021

• New guidance loosens some restrictions

I am happy to share that IDPH has (finally) updated its guidelines regarding testing, quarantining, visitation, distancing/mask wearing. These new IDPH guidelines, which we are expected to follow, are based on updated recommendations by the CDC.
The following among the highlights announced that will affect Marklund:

Outbreak testing remains the same, regardless of vaccination status.  If a site goes into Outbreak Status, ALL staff/residents must be tested.
Surveillance Testing –  If a Marklund site requires surveillance testing because of county positivity rate, fully vaccinated staff do not have to be tested; however, unvaccinated staff are still required to do so.
Staff Gathering—Vaccinated staff can eat together/have meetings without wearing masks and social distancing.  However, if an unvaccinated staff member is present, everyone needs to wear masks and unvaccinated staff must maintain 6 feet from others.

Visitation (this is for both indoor and outdoor visitation):
No need to prescreen visitors 24 hours in advance; just at the time of visit.
If the resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitors.
When the resident and all of their visitors are fully vaccinated, while ALONE in the resident’s room or designated visitation area, the residents and visitors can choose to have close contact (including touch) and NOT wear face masks.
Visitors should wear masks/distance from staff and all other residents and visitors that are not part of their group at all other times when in the facility.
When either the resident or any of their visitors are NOT fully vaccinated, the safest approach is for everyone to distance/wear masks.
If the resident is fully vaccinated they may choose to have close contact, including touch, with unvaccinated visitors while everyone still wears masks.
If unvaccinated residents or visitors are in the designated visitation area ALL residents and visitors should wear masks and maintain at least 6 feet distance.

Communal Dining and Group Activities –
Fully vaccinated residents can participate in communal dining and group activities without use of masks or social distancing.
If unvaccinated residents are involved in either communal dining or activities, then ALL residents should use masks/social distancing when not eating and unvaccinated residents should continue to remain at least 6 feet from others.

• Update on Positive Case at Wasmond Center

Results from a lab test taken on the recent positive staff case at MWC confirmed the positive results. Wasmond Center will remain on Outbreak Status until May 18. The second round of testing of all staff and residents will take place early next week.

Based on the announcement made from Gov. Pritzker’s office yesterday, we are hopeful that we are nearing the end of this pandemic lifestyle that we’ve endured for more than a year. As he mentioned, if case counts and hospitalizations across the state continue to improve, the State will enter the “Bridge Phase” on May 14, and then the final phase by June 11. Just remember, even though the state may move to full reopening, we always need to wait for final guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and IDPH, before we can do so.
Until then, we will continue to do all we can to ensure the safety of our residents and staff.
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend.

Effective May 4, 2021

• Positive Case at Wasmond Center

A staff member at the Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin tested positive for the COVID-19 virus during rapid surveillance testing yesterday. This person, who had last worked on Sunday, May 2, and who was only onsite yesterday for the test, is asymptomatic. She is fully vaccinated so it appears that the vaccine may be keeping the effects of the virus very minimal. She will be retested to have a laboratory confirm the results. The first round of outbreak testing for all other staff and residents came back negative.
Unfortunately, this puts MWC into Outbreak Status again which requires direct care staff to wear N95 masks and eye protection, and for MWC to put a pause on outings, activities, and in-person visits. At our other sites—the Hyde Center and Philip Center—all surveillance testing results have been negative.
Again, not the news we want to hear but these breakthrough cases are happening. We can only assume at this point that it is possibly due to the virus variants that are out there, but at least the vaccine appears to be helping with side-effects.

Effective April 20, 2021

• Good news: Negative results at MPC and MWC

I am pleased to report that all residents and staff at the Philip Center (MPC) and Wasmond Center (MWC) have tested negative for COVID during the testing completed this week. If no other staff cases develop, MPC will move off Outbreak Status on April 22, and MWC will be off April 28. At that point, resident outings will resume as will pre-arranged visitation. (Currently, MPC and MWC are allowing Virtual, Window and Compassionate Care visits.)

Effective April 14, 2021

• Positive case confirmed at MWC

This morning, we received lab confirmation that the Wasmond Center employee who tested positive during Monday’s onsite rapid surveillance testing had a second positive result for COVID-19. Fortunately she is asymptomatic. This puts MWC in outbreak status.

Following IDPH guidelines, we have had to place restrictions on visitation and postponed outings. Until further notice, only virtual visits will be allowed, with the exception of Compassionate Care situations. Please make arrangements with the Director of Nursing or the QIDP.

As I mentioned yesterday, using an abundance of caution, the nursing team tested all residents on Tuesday, and everyone had negative results. All other staff had negative results as well during the surveillance testing earlier this week.MWC employees and residents will be retested next Monday.

This positive result does show that the virus is still something we will need to contend with for the foreseeable future. As we continue to follow IDPH and CDC guidelines, we are staying positive that the world is moving in the right direction in the fight against COVID, and believe that the vaccines are doing their job at keeping those who are vaccinated from getting very sick from the virus.

• Good news: Negative results at MPC

All Philip Center residents and staff had negative test results during the second round of testing completed yesterday. If no other cases develop, MPC will come off Outbreak Status on April 22.

If you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out to me, an administrator or a department manager.

Effective April 13, 2021

• Positive rapid test case at MWC

A Wasmond Center direct care staff member tested positive during the rapid test surveillance screening on Monday, April 12. This person has been fully vaccinated, so a second test—this one sent to a lab—was taken to verify. We are currently awaiting the results before declaring MWC in “outbreak status.” However, just in case, all residents were tested today and all had negative results. In the meantime, the staff member, who last worked a shift on MWC’s South Side on Sunday, has been removed from the schedule for now.

Based on the data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), having a positive case after being fully vaccinated is unlikely, but not impossible. With the vaccines being up to 95% effective against COVID-19—not 100%—that does mean that there is a slim chance for a breakthrough “unexpected” virus to develop. Our best defense against breakthrough cases is to continue doing what we have been doing for the past year: wearing proper PPE, washing hands/using hand sanitizer, observing social distancing.

We will inform everyone as soon as we learn the results.

Effective April 12, 2021

• Increased regional positivity rates force weekly testing

According to new data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid and IDPH, with both Geneva and Bloomingdale’s regions moving into the ‘yellow’ zone starting today due to increasing COVID-19 positivity rates, we will be required to do weekly testing of staff at both the Hyde Center and the Philip Center. In addition, eye protection is once again required for all staff working with residents in Geneva or Bloomingdale (regardless of vaccination status).  Employees should check with their nursing teams to find out when testing will be held.
Wasmond Center’s region has not moved into a higher zone yet and may be able to stay in monthly testing if the numbers don’t jump, but they have been slowly moving up as well.  Unfortunately, if trends keep moving in a negative direction, we should prepare for MWC ending back in weekly testing, but hopefully at least not for a couple weeks.

• No new positive cases on site at MPC

All MPC residents and staff tested negative for the COVID-19 virus last week, after discovering the one positive staff case last Tuesday. All residents will be tested again this week, along with staff.

I know this isn’t the direction we wanted to move in, but hopefully with more vaccines being provided to residents in Illinois, it is just a temporary bump in the road. In the meantime, be assured we are doing everything possible to keep our residents, students and staff safe and healthy.

Effective April 6, 2021

• Positive staff case in Bloomingdale

We just received word that an unvaccinated staff member for the Marklund Philip Center (MPC) and the Marklund Day School (MDS) tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. She had a rapid test completed on-site yesterday with a negative result, but started feeling symptoms later at night and was retested offsite today. Fortunately, the staff member was wearing both a mask and eye protection while on site yesterday.

Unfortunately this means MPC will start outbreak testing of all residents and staff, cancels all outings, and suspends all in-person visitation and home visits for at least two weeks.

For MDS, parents of students in the affected classrooms have been notified by Director of Education Paula Bodzioch that due to the potential exposure, those classroom will move to full remote instruction until Monday, April 19.

Effective March 30, 2021

• IDPH Guidelines for Quarantining

IDPH released new information regarding if and when staff and residents need to quarantine after travel or exposure. Obviously it depends greatly on whether the person has been vaccinated or not. At this point, nearly 100% of our eligible residents have received the vaccination, as have 60% of employees. With the Johnson & Johnson vaccine being offered to Marklund staff at an upcoming clinic in early April, that number will increase to 74%.

Based on the most recent information from IDPH

— Fully vaccinated staff (at least 2 weeks post vaccine) do not need to quarantine after COVID exposure at work,. However, at this point, we still require staff to quarantine from community exposure. IDPH is seeking further clarification on this point from the CDC.
— Fully vaccinated residents (at least 2 weeks post vaccine) who go offsite for day/weekend passes do not need to quarantine upon return.
— International travel will still require the 7-day quarantine with a negative test or 10 days with no test.
— Screening questionnaires for visitors will still include a question about out of state travel. Visitors who traveled internationally still need to do the required quarantine (7 days with test/10 without).
— New admits do NOT need to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated.

Happily, we are holding steady with no positive COVID-19 cases coming out of any of our locations. I pray this trend will continue to allow our state to ease up on even more restrictions moving forward.

Effective March 22, 2021

Indoor Visitation FAQs

Outdoor Visitation FAQs

Effective March 22, 2021

• IDPH UPDATES TO VISITATION AND ACTIVITY GUIDELINES

Late in the day last Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released many changes to Visitation and Activity guidelines for Long-Term Care Facilities, based on recommendations from the CDC. These changes are great news and we are pleased to be sharing them with you all. (Keep in mind, these changes are based on current positivity rates in our state and counties and could be altered at any time.)
Key Points:
• Indoor visitation is allowed by appointment for all residents regardless of vaccination status under most circumstances
• Compassionate Care visit are always allowed
• Vaccinated residents can be out of the facility (even overnight for home visits) and do not need to quarantine upon return

General Visitation Guidelines:
Visits are allowed BY APPOINTMENT at all Marklund facilities either as Outdoors (most preferred option), indoors within dedicated visitation areas, or in private rooms under special circumstances.
To keep residents and staff as safe and healthy as possible, the maximum number of visitors per resident at one time is 4 and they must all be living within the same household.
Visits will be scheduled to specific lengths of time in order to ensure all residents are able to receive visitors. The total number of visitors in each facility will be limited by each facility’s administrator.
Visitors must adhere to all Infection Prevention protocols, including being screened upon arrival, wearing appropriate PPE, limiting movement within the facility—proceeding directly to visitation area or restroom only—maintaining social distancing.
However, fully vaccinated residents can choose to have close contact (including touch) as long as the visitor is wearing a face mask and the resident has assistance performing hand hygiene before and after.
Visits will be restricted if a there is a confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus.
Compassionate Care visits are permitted at all times.

Resident Activities/Outings/Dining/Beauty Salon
All residents (vaccinated or unvaccinated) may be able to take part in outings as long as infection precautions are taken prior to and afterward.
Beginning this Friday, March 26, vaccinated residents may go on overnight home visits and not need to quarantine upon return.
All residents may be taken outside on walks by family members during visits.
Residents who take part in offsite outings with staff must be screened prior to the outing and have assistance using hand sanitizer. The number of residents allowed on a specific outing is limited by the ability to have a 6-foot separation.
Outdoor activities and outings are encouraged, avoiding large events such as festivals, parades, etc.
All transport vehicles must be disinfected after each outing.
Unvaccinated residents will be observed/monitored for development of symptoms during 14 days following outing.

PPE Note for Direct Care Staff
All staff are still required to wear face masks when on Marklund property or on outings with residents.
IDPH guidelines do require unvaccinated staff to quarantine after exposure. Current guidelines recommend wearing eye protection (goggles or face shields) based on positivity rates regardless of vaccination status. However, at our current low levels of county-wide community transmission, vaccinated staff are no longer are required to wear face shields except for when caring for residents in isolation or on quarantine.

Based on all of this new guidance, the IDPH Long-Term Care Facility Reopening Plan no longer includes a “phase” structure. If need be, based on growing positivity rates, the state will impose Tiered Mitigation requirements. In the meantime, we are very pleased to have moved to this current status allowing families to be together on a much more regular basis.
Please feel free to reach out to the administrators for more specifics on these new guidelines.
We will be happy to see many of you back on site!

Effective March 19, 2021:

• COVID news from the Governor

Yesterday, Gov. Pritzker announced news regarding the state’s reopening plans. Many of the points he made are being received with great excitement but I need to clarify an important point. The advancements that the Governor discussed mainly apply to the general public—and those of us in our private lives—unfortunately, not to those within long-term care facilities. Marklund’s residential program must follow guidelines set by IDPH, while CDS follows those set by DHS. The changes he announced will however positively affect events that we are planning, so we are pleased at least to learn about advancements in that area.

• IDPH recommendations regarding visitation policies

Today, IDPH announced that it will share its new guidelines in the coming days, once they are all approved by the Governor’s office. Following this guidance, we will be amending our policies and procedures, and plan on updating everyone next week.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to work to keep in compliance with IDPH’s ever-changing requirements.

Effective March 17, 2021:

• Phase change for Geneva and Bloomingdale

of today, the Philip Center and the Hyde Center have moved into Phase 3 of the IDPH Long-Term Care Reopening Plan. The Wasmond Center has already been in Phase 3. This will allow us to provide more group activities and do some outings for our residents! Great news!

• Waiting for new visitation guidance

IDPH has yet to release any clarification or direction on how long-term care facilities like Marklund will be affected by last week’s visitation guidance changes from CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). We are hoping IDPH will make its recommendations this Friday. As always, once we receive that information, we will be sure to inform everyone.It sometimes feels like we’re moving in slow motion with these changes but at least we’re headed in the right direction!

Effective March 11, 2021:

• Possibility for more changes to visitation regulations

Late yesterday afternoon, we received new information from CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) regarding new nursing home guidance with revised visitation recommendations. This is a significant and positive update to previous guidance provided.
Once we receive clarification from IDPH on how this will affect Marklund and our residents, we will be sure to inform everyone.
This could be a great step forward for our residents and their parents/guardians!

Effective March 10, 2021:

• Policy Adjustment for Compassionate Care Visits

With us coming up on the one-year anniversary of the statewide shutdown, and with most of our eligible residents vaccinated and all of our locations allowing indoor visitation, we have expanded on our Compassionate Care Visit Policy.  We feel that we can now safely allow identified compassionate care visitors to have limited closer contact with their loved ones. Parent/guardians who believe that their loved one would benefit physically or emotionally from a visit that allows contact such as hand-holding or hugs, may make specific requests to the facility’s Administrator, Director of Nursing or QIDP.
All requests will be reviewed and considered individually as part of our person-centered approach. Very specific guidelines will need to be followed by visitors, including participating in phone and on-site screening, and possibly even rapid testing, wearing required PPE (personal protection equipment) that is supplied by Marklund, following all infection prevention guidelines during contact, and limiting the visit to a specific time and area within the building. All policy guidelines can be shared by the site administrators. Again, all visits must be prearranged to allow us to safely allow a limited number of visitors in the building when staffing allows.

• No new COVID cases; moving to once/month testing

Again this week, there have not been any new positive COVID-19 cases reported from the surveillance testing at our sites or from offsite situations. Due to the low positive rate in the area, MWC has been given permission to reduce surveillance testing of staff to just once per month. If MHC stays on track with no new cases, it too will move to once/month testing as of March 22. DuPage County Health Department however is requiring that MPC continue with its once a week surveillance testing.

• Vaccine Progress:

MHC and MWC each have 1 more COVID-19 vaccine clinic arranged for employees and residents: Geneva: March 26. Elgin: March 29.

With the warmer weather, our residents have been able to enjoy more time outside as part of their CDS activities. After nearly a full year of dealing with this pandemic, everyone is looking forward to getting off campus hopefully in the near future as we are able to do outings safely.

Effective March 3, 2021:

• No new COVID cases:

Good news! So far this week there have not been any new positive COVID-19 cases reported from the surveillance testing at any of our sites or from offsite situations.

• Moving Phases again!

Since we have no new cases, we have Great News! We are once again advancing phases within the IDPH Long-Term Care Reopening Plan . The Wasmond Center (MWC) is now in Phase 3, and MPC and MHC have moved into Phase 2. The main changes are that all three sites—MHC/MPC/MWC—will be allowing indoor visitation, and MWC will be able to do outings again with residents. However, these activities will still require social distancing and mask wearing. Reminder—parents/guardians need to contact the Q or Administrator at their loved one’s location to set appointments for any visits.

• Vaccine Progress:

MHC and MWC both have 2 more clinics set up for dispensing the COVID-19 vaccine to employees and residents.
Geneva: March 5 and March 26.
Elgin: March 8 and March 29.
To date: almost 65% of our staff and practically 100% of our eligible residents have received the vaccine. Any staff who have not yet participated still have a shot to reduce the spread of the virus!

• CDS going back into the classroom!

More great news. DHS of is allowing us to move the Community Day Services program back into the classrooms at MHC. This will be the first time really in nearly a year, with the exception of a short period of time last year. We will begin on March 29 for our residents, and happily welcome back Community Clients on April 12! The plan is to begin with a modified schedule to allow for appropriate social distancing. The CDS program MWC will be announcing the return date to its classrooms soon.

Effective Feb. 26, 2021:

• New non-facility-based COVID case:

– Geneva: A staff member tested positive with a rapid test during a surveillance testing and had the diagnosis confirmed today by a follow-up lab test. This person had not been on site since Feb. 13, so it is clearly a non-facility based case. The staff member will continue to quarantine but no contact tracing is needed.

– Bloomingdale & Elgin: no new cases.

Effective Feb. 22, 2021:

• No Facility-based COVID cases / Surveillance testing continues:

I am very pleased to report that we have not had any facility-based COVID-19 cases at any of our sites since Jan. 21! That is a great sign that our staff is being less affected due to the decrease in county-wide numbers and the increase in those in the area getting vaccinated. Each of our sites in Bloomingdale, Elgin and Geneva, is now down to doing once-a-week surveillance testing of staff. This lifts some of the burden from our nursing teams who have been champions in assisting with this procedure.

• IDPH updates:

Early next week, we will share information on any new changes to IDPH COVID-19 guidance, and how these changes will affect our policies and procedures. We are still on track for MWC to move into Phase 3 of the IDPH Long-Term Care Reopening Plan, on March 1, and for MHC and MPC to move into Phase 2 on March 2. Both of these phases allow for Virtual, Outdoor and Indoor visitation while Phase 3 allows residents to go on outings as long as social distancing can be maintained. Protocol for arranging visitation and outings will be determined by the site administrators. Outdoor visits may be scheduled at all sites weather permitting.

• Vaccine clinics continue:

The Hyde Center and Wasmond Center held successful COVID vaccine clinics on the 12th and 15th of this month. To date, 100 staff have received both vaccinations, and 173 have received their first dose, along with nearly 100% of eligible residents. Along with those employees who got their vaccinations at outside sources, we are very close to having 65% of our full-time staff having been vaccinated—so far.
Next clinic dates are: MPC: Feb. 25; MHC: March 5 and 26; MWC: March 8 and 29, and we are hopeful to see more staff sign up. Studies are showing that the vaccine is very effective at preventing serious illness/hospitalization and deaths from the COVID-19 virus.

• Changes to Marklund’s Temporary Modified Absence Policy

Last Wednesday, all staff learned of updates to the Travel/Quarantine/Testing requirements found in the Modified Temporary Absence Policy. Basically, staff who travel domestically out of Illinois must receive a negative rapid test and have no COVID-like symptoms prior to returning to work, and will no longer need to quarantine after travel. Those who travel internationally still must quarantine. Employees can refer to the policy sent an email sent from Marie Loiacono, Director of Human Resources.

Effective Feb. 12, 2021

• New non-facility-based COVID case:

– Bloomingdale: An employee at the Philip Center tested positive on Monday, Feb. 8, during surveillance testing, and the result was confirmed today with a follow-up test sent to a lab. The individual had not been in the building since an overnight shift on Feb. 4. Therefore, this is not considered a facility-based case, and MPC will not need to go into outbreak testing.  Surveillance testing continues for staff.
– Elgin & Geneva: No new cases. Surveillance testing continues for staff.

• Changing phases again:

As long as we do not have any new facility-based COVID cases for residents or staff for the next four or five days, we are still on track for MWC to move into Phase 2 of the IDPH Long-Term Care Reopening Plan, which would allow for Indoor Visits. These must be pre-arranged with the Q or Administrator. MPC and MHC will be able to move out of the tiered mitigation into Phase 1 on the 17th, still allowing pre-arranged Virtual and Outdoor visits only.

• Vaccine clinics continue:

Today we are holding the first of three COVID vaccine clinics at MHC, with 275 staff, residents, and Community Day Services clients slated to receive it. MWC is ready to hold its first of three clinics starting Monday, Feb. 15. Having more staff and residents vaccinated will mean a much lower chance of future outbreaks at our facilities, and a quicker progression to Phase 3 of the IDPH LTC Reopening Plan, which will not only allow indoor visits, but also outings for residents. That day cannot come soon enough!

Effective Feb. 8, 2021

• Staff getting vaccinated

So far, we have had 99 staff complete both doses of the Pfizer vaccine (95 at the Marklund Philip Center and 4 at outside clinics). In addition, 23 more staff (a combination of employees from the various Marklund sites) received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine last week at MPC.
For our upcoming COVID vaccine clinics at the Hyde Center in Geneva and the Wasmond Center in Elgin, we have 146 staff registered for Geneva and 54 in Elgin.
We actually anticipate that the numbers will even be greater once we get through all of our clinics!
Most of our eligible residents have received or will be receiving the vaccine, thanks to only a handful of parents/guardians declining to have their loved ones receive it.

• Additional non-facility-based COVID case:

– Elgin: An employee at the Wasmond Center tested positive Thursday, Feb. 4, during surveillance testing. The result was confirmed with a follow-up test sent to a lab. The individual is asymptomatic and has not been in the building since Jan. 4. As this is not considered a facility-based case, MWC will not need to go into outbreak testing.
– Bloomingdale & Geneva: No new cases.

Effective Feb. 3, 2021

• We’ve moved phases; Outdoor visits allowed

We are please to report that all Marklund sites within the State’s COVID regional dashboard have moved to Phase 4. However, since we follow the IDPH Long-Term Care Reopening Plan, this change allows the Wasmond Center (MWC) to move to its Phase 1 with no tiered mitigations, and the Philip and Hyde centers to move to Phase 1 but still with Tier 1 Mitigations.

Basically, what this comes down to is all of our sites are able to allow Virtual and Outdoor visits once again. Parents/guardians should contact the Administrator or Q in their loved one’s residential facility to set up an appointment for visits.In addition we may have modified group activities, however no off-site outings, and still no volunteers.

In order to move up the phases in the IDPH Long-Term Care Reopening Plan, a residential site must go 14 days without a new facility-based COVID case for residents or staff. Indoor visits may be allowed once we get to Phase 2. At this point, the soonest that could happen is Feb. 16 for MWC, and March 3 for MPC and MHC.

• New non-facility-based COVID case:

– Elgin: An employee at the Wasmond Center tested positive Monday, Feb. 1, during surveillance testing. The individual is asymptomatic and has not been in the building since Jan. 29, so this is not considered a facility-based case and MWC will not need to go into outbreak testing.
– Bloomingdale & Geneva: No new cases.

 

Effective Jan. 29, 2021

• New COVID case:

– Elgin: A staff member at the Wasmond Center tested positive Thursday during surveillance testing. The individual is asymptomatic and has not been in the building since her last shift on Saturday, Jan. 16, so this is a non-facility case and MWC will not need to go into outbreak testing.
– Bloomingdale & Geneva: No new cases.

• Scheduling Vaccine Clinics for staff:

There have been some questions as to how our vaccine clinics have been scheduled. Determining the clinic dates is completely out of our hands and assigned by Walgreens pharmacies based on various criteria. Marklund has no control over which site was designated for which dates. The one thing we were able to do is offer it to all staff and eligible residents at that specific site, and then if possible open it up to other staff who work at multiple Marklund sites as well as direct care managers if they would be able to make it to the clinic from their home site during the designated hours.
While we are offering vaccines to all staff, there are still several who have opted out of receiving it, for a number of reasons. I hope in seeing how well staff and residents have tolerated the vaccines thus far, that some who have opted out may ultimately reconsider. Even if you miss the first clinic at a specific site, you have the opportunity to get both doses on the 2nd and 3rd clinic dates. If you have changed your mind and want to opt in, please make sure you contact Krissy Dolen at MHC, Michelle Orwig at MWC or Gunjan Patel at MPC. We don’t know what life will be like at Marklund once all of the clinics have taken place—masks, no masks, etc.—we just know we will continue to follow all guidance from IDPH.

• COVID-19 vaccine clinic dates from Walgreens for all of our sites:

MHC: Feb. 12, March 5 and 26
MWC: Feb. 15, March 8 and 29
MPC: Feb. 4 and 25 (First clinic held Jan. 14)

Effective Jan. 27, 2021

• New COVID case:

– Geneva: A new positive staff member was identified by rapid test results during surveillance testing Tuesday. The individual is asymptomatic and sent home pending confirmation of test results. In accordance with current CDC guidelines, all positive rapid test results in individuals without symptoms must be confirmed via laboratory testing. This staff member does not work directly with the residents. Surveillance testing continues in compliance with state and local guidelines.
– Bloomingdale & Elgin: No new cases.

• No changes to Tier level yet:

Although the Governor announced that our Regions (8 and 10) moved to Tier 1 of Phase 3 mitigations yesterday, our facilities are not yet adjusting Tier levels. As a Long-Term-Care facility, we follow guidelines established by the Illinois Dept. of Public Health. According to IDPH requirements, LTC facilities need to remain in the higher tiered mitigation level for 14 days after its region moves into a less restrictive tier. Basically that means we are still in Tier 3 which suspends all visitation, communal dining, group activities. We will inform everyone once these restrictions are removed.

• Reminder: Upcoming Vaccine Clinics for staff:

COVID-19 vaccine clinic dates from Walgreens for all of our sites:
MHC: Feb. 12, March 5 and 26
MWC: Feb. 15, March 8 and 29
MPC: Feb. 4 and 25 (First clinic held Jan. 14)

Effective Jan. 21, 2021

• New COVID case:

– Elgin: An employee tested positive for COVID during the surveillance testing process this morning prior to the day shift starting. This person is asymptomatic and last worked the day shift on Tuesday, Jan. 19, on the South Side.
Contact tracing has begun as has testing of residents on the South Side.
– Bloomingdale & Geneva: No new cases.

• Upcoming Vaccine Clinics:

We officially received COVID vaccine clinic dates from Walgreens for all of our sites.
MHC: Feb. 12, March 5 and 26
MWC: Feb. 15, March 8 and 29
MPC: Feb. 4 and 25
At our first clinic held at the Philip Center last week, 110 staff and residents received the first dose of the vaccine. We are pleased to report that there have been no adverse reactions reported.

• Top Hat Ball Upside Down coming soon:

Just a quick reminder that there is still time to register for FREE for this year’s Top Hat Ball Upside Down: Our Ball, Your Ballroom virtual event set for Feb. 6. Join the livestream experience from 7-8 p.m. and enjoy celebrity appearances, a chance to take part in silent and live auctions, and donate to Marklund. This pandemic did not stop our Development Team from designing a very unique event and I hope you all can participate. Register at www.www.marklund.org/tophatball.

 

Effective Jan. 11, 2021

• MPC: Vaccine clinic this week

We are very pleased that the Philip Center (MPC) will hold the first COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic this Thursday. All eligible MPC residents will receive the vaccine as well as those MPC staff members who have requested it. We are hopeful that we will receive information in the near future about scheduling vaccine clinics at MHC and MWC.

• COVID testing:

All three of Marklund’s residential sites are completing regular surveillance testing of all staff. The frequency of tests are based on the positivity rate of the county in which the facility is located. In the event of a new positive case of an employee who has been on-site, that site will revert back to contact tracing and testing of identified staff and residents.
Currently, there are no new positive cases for the Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin, and Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva. Surveillance testing this morning at the Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale, identified a positive staff member prior to the start of the employee’s shift. This staff member, however, was on PTO and last in the building Tuesday, Jan. 5. This will not be considered a facility outbreak and will not affect the surveillance testing process.

• Tense times:

Most of you have probably heard and read about the civil unrest that occurred in Washington, DC, last week. I’m sure many of you may be feeling a wide range of emotions and unease because of it. I encourage you to step away from the news reports and simply focus on yourself, your family, friends, and those we serve at Marklund. You can be assured that Marklund is a safe place. Safety and security has always been a top priority. If any employees need help or just someone to talk to, feel free to reach out to me, other managers, or our Employee Assistance Program.

Effective Dec. 31, 2020

• COVID case updates:

– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: No new positive cases. Residents on the North Side of MWC were tested yesterday and we anticipate receiving results Saturday. – Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale, and Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: No new positive cases.

• Looking Back

– This year has been one to remember…and one we wish we could forget. There’s no doubt that Marklund was a different place prior to March 12, when Gov. Pritzker shut down the state. But we faced this global pandemic head on, adjusted to the new norm, and in many ways have come out stronger for it.
At last count, 49 Marklund employees, including those in our Day School, tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, with only a couple of cases needing hospitalization. And, only 8 residents—less than 5 percent of our total resident population—tested positive, none needing to be hospitalized and most were asymptomatic. That speaks very highly of how well our staff has been able to come and go day after day into the world and stay as safe and healthy as possible. Yes, some staff contracted the virus, but due to the safety procedures we put in place it rarely spread to our residents over the past 10 months.
Looking in the rearview mirror, we must admit that some important positives have come out of this past year. We:

–implemented new procedures for health screening of staff/visitors

–developed new HR attendance policies for managing crisis situations

–are well stocked with PPEs in preparation for current and future needs

–have developed virtual options for therapy sessions, MDS education, staff meetings, and family/volunteer visits

–have made significant building improvements

• Looking forward

The vaccine is coming. We don’t know when yet for MHC or MWC but it is coming, and with it, hopefully a return to some form of the Marklund organization that we were nearly 10 months ago. We hope everyone considers taking the vaccine and encouraging others who are on the fence about it to do so as well.
As we bid a welcome good-bye to 2020, I want to wish you and your families a happy, healthy new year.

Effective Dec. 30, 2020

• COVID case updates:

– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin: A staff member at MWC tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked in the building on Tuesday, Dec. 22, Contact tracing is being completed for staff and residents, and appropriate testing will follow.
– Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale, and Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: No new positive cases.

• Vaccine News

– Other than Walgreens pharmacy locking in a vaccine clinic start date of Jan. 14 for MPC, we have not yet received any new information regarding clinics at MHC and MWC. We know they are coming in the near future, so stay tuned.

•  Holiday Thank You

– On behalf of the residents, I’d like to extend a big thank you to those who helped make the Christmas holiday very enjoyable for our residents through gift donations and assisting with gift opening and holiday festivities,. Everyone seemed to make the most of the unusual situation and had a wonderful time. Be sure to check out Marklund’s social media pages if you have not yet, to view the many, many photos and videos posted over last week and weekend.

Effective Dec. 28, 2020

• COVID case updates:

– Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: We were informed this morning that a staff member at the Marklund Sayers Home (MSH) has tested positive for COVID-19. This person’s last worked on Monday, Dec. 21, has been off since due to exposure from a family member, and had gotten tested offsite on Dec. 23.
Today’s on-site tests results are negative for residents at the Dreher Home, Sayers Home and Van Der Molen home, in Geneva, as well as for those staff tested through the contact tracing process. The next round of tests will be completed on Monday, Jan. 4.
– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin, and Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: All negative results from yesterday’s and today’s on-site surveillance testing.

Effective Dec. 27, 2020

• COVID case updates:

– Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: We received confirmation that an In-House Registry (IHR) employee tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 24. This person’s last shift was Tuesday, Dec. 22, at the Marklund Dreher Home (MDH). Contact tracing has been completed and other employees identified who will be tested Monday, Dec. 28, along with all residents at MDH.
All other on-site tests at MVH returned negative results. The next round of tests there will be conducted tomorrow.
– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin, and Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: All negative results from last week’s on-site testing.

Effective Dec. 22, 2020

• COVID case updates:

– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin, and Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: Surveillance testing has also begun. All staff will be tested twice a week.
– Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: Contact tracing tests confirmed another new positive staff case at the VanDerMolen Home (MVH). This person is asymptomatic, had tested negative the previous Monday, and was last in the building on Sunday, Dec. 20. The next round of tests will be conducted next Monday. This will push back the start of Surveillance Testing until all staff and residents at MVH have negative results for 2 complete rounds.

• Vaccine News:

Walgreens pharmacy pushed back the start date of the Philip Center COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics until January 14. They also locked in follow-up clinic dates of Feb. 4 and 25. More information will be released as to the process for the clinics.
Administrators at MWC and MHC have not yet received firm information about vaccine clinics at the Elgin and Geneva locations.

While we are very happy to hear about the vaccines being administered at hospitals and healthcare facilities in the area, we do want to add in a gentle reminder about visitation. All of our facilities are still following COVID-19 restrictions recommended by IDPH and the CDC so even though a parent/guardian/family member may have received a vaccine, visitation policies have not yet changed to reflect vaccination. Once the visitation restrictions are adjusted by IDPH, we will share the happy news with everyone.

Effective Dec. 17, 2020

COVID case updates:

– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin. All clear! All results from the last round of testing have come back negative.
– Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale, All Clear! Results from the latest round of testing are all negative as well!
– Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: All negative for the recent round. One more round of testing scheduled for next week.

• Surveillance Testing:

Once a Marklund facility is clear of positive cases for a period of 14 days, it will begin the process of Surveillance Testing—regular testing of all staff once or twice a week, depending on the county’s positivity rate. We will release specific details as to when the nursing staff will be conducting the testing. It will be every employee’s responsibility to make sure they participate in the testing on the days it is being offered, or to make arrangements with their administrators. For more details, see the updated COVID-19 Testing Plan policy which will be released tomorrow.

• Vaccine News:

We have been contacted by Walgreens pharmacy to begin planning for the COVID-19 Vaccine clinics. At this point, the Philip Center has been scheduled to hold its first clinic on Dec. 28. More information will follow as to specific times and location, as well as clinics at MWC and MHC. What we can say right now is the number of vaccines we receive and the brand will be based on our allocation from the public health organizations.

While we cannot mandate that all staff get vaccinated, we are encouraging all to please consider it. There is a great deal of information and misinformation in the media and all over social media. We understand that many people have very real concerns based on perceived risks, religious, cultural, and family beliefs, and personal medical situations. To help you make the best decision for yourself and your family, we will release an FAQ sheet tomorrow.
In the meantime, any staff who have not yet returned their vaccine intent form to their managers should do so by tomorrow.

 

 

Effective Dec. 15, 2020

• COVID case updates:

– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin. A staff member who has been offsite quarantining due to exposure tested positive for COVID-19. Since this person has not been onsite for some time, no additional staff or residents need to be tested.

• Holiday Gifts

We are seeing an amazing response to our annual gift drive already! With the current volunteer/visitor restrictions in place, we were unsure of how our Giving Tree gift drive would be accessed by friends, families and donors. We are humbled by how everyone seems to have stepped up and are going well out of their way to make sure our residents have a special holiday season! While we cannot welcome guests in for our usual Christmas Eve Gift Opening, Marklund staff at all sites are looking forward to being Santa’s helpers this year and planning many festive activities! Stay tuned to our social media sites to share in the fun.

Effective Dec. 14, 2020

• COVID case updates:

– Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva. A staff member working at MVH reported a positive result from an offsite COVID test. Rapid testing completed this morning confirmed all residents to be negative and the testing of staff identified by contact tracing is underway.
– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin. We received all negative results from Thursday’s testing. A new round is being completed today. The resident who had previously tested positive has been removed from isolation.

• Vaccine news

We have not received any specific details yet about when we will be receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but will keep everyone posted as we do. The HR Department is distributing a COVID-19 Vaccination Intent Form to staff in order to determine the number of employees intending to get the vaccine when one is available.

I have mentioned this before, but I am so proud of how our staff continues to step up and be “heroes” to our residents. Working each day, supporting each other, doing little extras for the residents—all matter so much to those we serve, especially during this time of year.
Thank you all.

Effective Dec. 10, 2020

• COVID case updates:

– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin. One additional staff member has tested positive for COVID from an offsite test. This person was last in the building yesterday, Dec. 9, and not in contact with residents. We do have good news to share: We received all results from Monday’s round and all are negative. The second round is being conducted today on that group; as well as the first new round for staff that was positive (from the outside test).

– Marklund Philip Center (MPC), Bloomingdale: More good news: All negative results from this week’s testing.  Second round will start next Monday.

• Marklund Day School:

Over the past several weeks, we have been informed that several Marklund Day School (MDS) families, as well as MDS staff, have been impacted directly by COVID-19 (exposure and/positive test results). Given the increase in community spread in the weeks following Thanksgiving, Marklund Day School has decided to keep school remote for the first two weeks of January in order to monitor any similar increase following the holiday season, and to perform a deep cleaning and disinfection at all Marklund schools.
Please note that Marklund Day School will resume the in person hybrid schedule on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Effective Dec. 8, 2020

COVID case updates:

– Marklund Hyde Center (MHC), Geneva: We received word late Monday that an administrative staff member tested positive, and was last in the building on Monday, Dec. 7. Contact tracing has been completed and no other staff will need to be tested. This person had not been around residents so the campus homes are not affected.
– Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC), Elgin. Results from Friday’s testing of South Side staff and residents confirmed another staff member positive case. This employee was last in the building on Monday, Dec. 7. The next round of testing will be this Thursday.
The resident that turned up with a positive test still has not developed symptoms.

• Travel reminder:

Just a reminder for staff who are planning to travel out-of-state for 24 hours or more during the holidays to inform Marissa Cassin, HR Manager, prior to traveling. Every state, with the exception of Hawaii, Maine and Vermont, is currently on the high-risk list.

Effective Dec. 7, 2020

• Positive staff member at Philip Center; awaiting results at MWC

An employee at the Marklund Philip Center in Bloomingdale has tested positive for COVID. This person was last in the building on Saturday, Dec. 5. We will continue to test weekly until two consecutive rounds come back negative in 14 days.
No new cases or results to announce today for the Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin. Another round of testing was completed this morning with results anticipated on Wednesday.

• IDPH upholds quarantine length

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that long-term care facilities should continue to follow the 14-day quarantine procedure for health-care professionals and residents who were exposed to COVID but have not tested positive or developed symptoms.

• Essential Caregivers

As I shared last week, IDPH released new guidance on the appropriate use of “Essential Caregivers” at long-term care facilities. After thoroughly reviewing the information, we decided to develop an assessment tool to help determine which resident(s) would need an essential caregiver to provide additional support due to the resident(s) exhibiting escalating behavior issues resulting from COVID visitor and outing restrictions. We will be developing a policy to implement these guidelines which will include disbursement of PPE, as well as testing and attendance requirements. We will share more information as it becomes available.

Effective Dec. 5, 2020

• Resident case at Wasmond Center

Results from Thursday’s tests indicated a positive resident at the Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin. This resident is asymptomatic, however administration has implemented isolation protocol and moved the resident to a private room. All residents and staff on MWC’s south side will continue to be tested.

Effective Dec. 2, 2020

• Additional Wasmond Center employee tests positive

We received information this morning that an additional staff member at the Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin tested positive for COVID-19 through offsite testing at this person’s other job. This person was last in the building Tuesday, Dec. 1, and does not have contact with residents. Further contact tracing has been conducted and no new testing of staff is necessary from this case.
On a positive note, Marklund-based tests completed last Friday on all facility residents and some staff from a previous staff exposure all returned negative. A new round was completed on Monday.

• Philip Center test update

Administration at the Philip Center (MPC) in Bloomingdale are waiting on the test results—and hopefully the all clear!—from the latest round taken on Sunday and Monday. The previous round for MPC residents and staff had been all negative.

• Vaccine news

We are excited to report that we are starting to receive information from the CDC, public health organizations and pharmacies about preparing for the arrival and distribution of the new COVID-19 vaccine. While there is no exact arrival date given, we know that as a long-term care provider, Marklund will be high on the list to quickly receive the vaccine once it becomes available in Illinois. At this point, there are still many unknowns regarding the length of time that the vaccine will be available to us, so we will be encouraging staff to take advantage of the opportunity once it is here. It is a 2-step vaccine, with doses dispensed 21 to 28 days apart. Just like how we handle the flu vaccine each year, COVID vaccine clinics will be set up at various times at all Marklund residential locations. We may partner with Walgreens to assist with the clinics.

Getting this new vaccine can be scary for many, especially with inaccurate information and negative memes regularly shared on social media. However, we truly hope everyone considers taking this step—not only for themselves, but for the safety of their families and our residents as well.
In addition, vaccine compliance may also eventually result in the CDC and IDPH deciding when to change restrictions with regard to the need for facemasks and eye protection, and when to allow in-person visitation, resident outings, and volunteer participation again!

• IDPH releases “Essential Caregiver” guidance

IDPH released new guidance today on the appropriate use of essential caregivers to provide companionship and assist residents with activities of daily living at long-term care facilities. We are reviewing it at this time. We will need to determine the best and safest way to implement these guidelines so as to benefit our residents while keeping them and our staff safe during this time of high community transmission.
We will share more information about this in the near future.

Effective Nov. 29, 2020

• Additional Wasmond Center employee tests positive

Just a quick update to inform you that an additional staff member at the Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin tested positive for COVID-19. This person was last in the building in the evening of Monday, Nov. 23. Based on contact tracing, testing will be completed on south side residents and P.M. shift staff on Monday.

Effective Nov. 27, 2020

• Wasmond Center staff test positive

First the good news: the second round of testing on Wasmond Center (MWC) residents and staff who were potentially exposed to a COVID-positive staff member last week has come back all negative.
Now, the not-so-good news: three additional staff members reported receiving positive test results, from offsite exposures/testing. Contact tracing has already been completed and on-site testing will begin once again for any staff who have already been contacted by MWC administration, and just two residents.

• Geneva test results negative

Back to good news: All staff and resident outbreak testing for the Marklund Richard Home (MRH) in Geneva is complete and results are NEGATIVE. MRH has the All clear!

• Philip Center receives negative results

More good news: We received all negative results on the latest round of testing of all staff and residents at the Philip Center (MPC) in Bloomingdale. The facility will have one more round of testing next Monday.

 

I realize how stressful it is to learn about more cases developing. This continuing “invisible threat” makes us feel like we are never going to get through this…but we will. We have been very fortunate to weather the last eight months of the pandemic with staff and residents having none to a few minor symptoms and no hospitalizations. Therapeutics are coming and vaccines are on the horizon. We will get through this…together!

God Bless!

Effective Nov. 24, 2020

• Window Visits Allowed!

Great news! We were just informed that the Governor’s office has officially changed course on its guidance regarding window visits at Long-Term Care Facilities, stating that they will be allowed during the holidays, at the discretion of each facility. We are definitely in agreement with the change and are happy that families will be able to have this type of connection with their loved ones at Marklund in addition to virtual visits.
Please note: all window visits must be pre-arranged with the QIDP in each facility.

Now we all have one more thing to be thankful for this week!

Effective Nov. 20, 2020

• Wasmond Employee Tests Positive:

Last night, we received confirmation that a direct care employee at the Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin tested positive for COVID-19. This person was last in the building on Sunday, Nov. 15, and learned she had been exposed to someone with the virus offsite.
Administration and nursing will conduct contact tracing for staff and begin the testing process on those who fit the criteria for exposure. All residents will be tested.

Effective Nov. 19, 2020:

• Testing Status:
  • Hyde Center, Geneva:

We received all negative test results on residents and staff at the Richard Home (MRH), along with any staff included in the Orientation testing. The next round of testing at MRH will be completed Monday.

• Testing Status:
  • Philip Center, Bloomingdale:

A second asymptomatic staff member has been identified through the on-site testing completed on Monday. This person was last in the building Wednesday, Nov. 18. We will continue to do testing on all staff and residents until we have two full rounds of negative results.

• Virtual Visitation Only:

Due to the Tier 3 Mitigations imposed by Gov. Pritzker which go into effect as of tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 20, all Marklund sites will restrict visitations to the virtual format only. Appointments must be made through the QIDPs in the homes, or nurse managers if the Qs are not available.

We understand that this will be a difficult time for everyone as more restrictions are imposed on our state. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate through this time. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any concerns.

Effective Nov. 17, 2020:

• Testing Status:
  • Wasmond Center, Elgin:

I am happy to report that the Wasmond Center (MWC) received all negative results for the 2nd round of testing completed last week.

• Testing Status:
  • Hyde Center, Geneva:

Residents and staff at the Richard Home (MRH), along with any staff identified last week through contact tracing to the Orientee who had a positive test result, went through another round of testing yesterday. Results should be available on Wednesday.

• Testing Status:
  • Philip Center, Bloomingdale:

We also received all negative results for the second group of residents and staff tested on-site last Thursday. All residents and staff will go through two more rounds of testing, this week and next.

• Marklund Day School News:

Due to a positive staff case, Marklund Day School-Bloomindale went on full remote as of this past Monday, Nov. 16. The students and staff who were in close contact with this person (within 6 feet for longer than 15 minutes) were notified and are required to quarantine  for 14 days. Marklund Day School-Geneva will move to full remote next Monday, Nov. 23. MDS-Elgin will remain open as usual.

• MWC Visitation:

Cook County recently instituted a 14-day quarantine for anyone who comes into the county from another area.  IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) specifically mentioned that this restriction applies to visitors at long-term care facilities. MWC is located within Cook County. Therefore, due to this restriction as well as the changing weather, MWC can only allow virtual visitations for the foreseeable future.

• NEW STATE RESTRICTIONS:

Gov. Pritzker announced today that the entire state is moving to Tier 3 mitigations as of Friday, Nov. 20. New restrictions specifically placed on long-term care facilities includes suspending all indoor or outdoor visitation, communal dining, group activities and hair salon services.
I will share more information as it becomes available.

Effective Nov. 13, 2020:

Well, it wouldn’t be Friday the 13th in 2020 without another COVID Update.

• Positive staff cases:
  • Hyde Center, Geneva:

From the on-site staff testing completed at the Marklund Richard Home, we had one positive test result for an asymptomatic staff member. This person last worked on Monday, Nov. 9.
Another staff member who normally works at the Tommy Home (MTH) but who picked up a shift at MRH on Tuesday, Nov. 10, tested positive at an offsite facility this week. This employee had not worked at MTH recently so no additional testing of staff or residents at that home is necessary.
Another round of testing for all residents and staff at MRH will be completed Monday.

• Positive staff cases:
  • Philip Center
    

An asymptomatic staff member at MPC also tested positive for COVID-19 as a result of the first round of on-site testing. All residents had negative results as have all other staff so far. Other staff results are still pending. The nursing staff will initiate another round of testing next week.

• Marklund Day School News:

Day School administration has reported seeing an increase of student and staff illness in both our Bloomingdale and Geneva campuses. This week, 10 individuals (both staff and students) reported COVID-like symptoms across all three campuses and one student at the Bloomingdale campus tested positive for COVID-19. This student has not been in attendance since Tuesday, Oct. 27, therefore, there is no risk of exposure to the students who have been in-person. As a result, Marklund Day School will be moving to full remote starting on Monday, Nov. 23. The school will remain on full remote instruction through the winter holiday break.

Effective Nov. 12, 2020

• Positive staff cases:
  • Hyde Center, Geneva:

We received word that an orientee in this week’s New Employee Orientation class tested positive for COVID. This person had not been in any of the homes at all, just attending orientation in the Hyde Center. Our nursing department has completed contact tracing for any staff who may have been exposed and are working on getting the first round of testing taken care of today.

• Testing updates:
  • Philip Center, Bloomingdale:

The first round of testing on staff and residents at MPC has been completed as of today. Results should hopefully arrive within 48 hours. The second round will be implemented next week.

• Testing updates:
  • Hyde Center Campus, Geneva:

All residents of the Marklund Richard Home (MRH) have tested negative in the first round. Seven of the eight staff are also negative with the results of the last pending test due tomorrow. Round 2 for all will be completed Monday.

• Testing updates:
  • Wasmond Center, Elgin:

In addition, we received good news on all of the first round of tests completed on those staff and residents at MWC who were identified through contact tracing to being exposed to a positive staff member earlier this week. All were negative. The second round will be taken today.
Kudos to our nursing teams for managing all of this extra testing on top of their day jobs. Marklund is blessed to have such dedicated, caring employees.

Effective Nov. 2, 2020

• Philip Center resident tests negative

Great news! We received a negative test result on the Philip Center (MPC) resident in Bloomingdale. With this new negative result, consistent with the testing time line over four days, MPC Medical Director Dr. Asta Astrauskas is confident that the positive in the hospital was in fact a false positive.  The resident has been taken off isolation and no further testing on staff or other residents is required.

• Staff, resident COVID updates:

I am happy to report that we continue to receive negative results for the on-site staff tests completed last week at Tommy and Sayers homes in Geneva, with the exception of one test that was damaged during shipping. Following IDPH requirements, staff and residents at the Dreher Home will have one more round of tests today, along with the retest for the employee’s that had gotten damaged.

• Mask up during holiday group gatherings:

With the increase in COVID-positivity across the entire state of Illinois, IDPH is recommending that all individuals wear a mask AND maintain at least 6 feet of distance from anyone that does not live in their household.
During the upcoming holidays, it is important that we make sure to do whatever we can to protect ourselves, our families, our residents and students, and our co-workers by following the most current safety guidelines.
Thank you for your continued dedication to staying safe during this pandemic!

Effective Oct. 29, 2020

• Resident in isolation at Philip Center

A resident of the Philip Center (MPC) in Bloomingdale is being cared for in isolation at MPC after returning from a hospital stay in which he ultimately had a positive COVID test result. This resident went to the hospital on Monday for a non-COVID situation and had been given a COVID test which came back negative. After a transfer to a second hospital, a second test was conducted upon arrival, which was negative. During the course of his stay at the hospital, a third test was conducted which came back positive. This confirms that if the positive is accurate, the resident did not contract the virus while at MPC, but instead from the hospital or someone at the hospital. In this case, we will not need to do contact tracing or testing of staff and other residents. Prior to discharge back to MPC, the hospital administered another COVID test which was negative.  MPC will administer one final test today, and the resident will remain in isolation until a second negative result is obtained.

• MHC and MWC staff, resident COVID updates:

I am happy to report that we have received all negative results on all on-site tests completed this week on residents at the Hyde Center homes, and staff and residents at the Wasmond Center. We are still awaiting results on second-round testing for staff at the Tommy and Sayers homes, and a second round is scheduled for next Monday in Dreher Home for both staff and residents.

I’d like to again thank those parents/guardians who have been so understanding of all that we have gone through and all the precautions we’ve taken since the start of the pandemic.

Effective Oct. 27, 2020:

• Long-Term Care Mitigations Begin Wednesday in Elgin

Following the trend facing Kane and DuPage counties, suburban Cook County (Region 10) will have mitigation efforts put into effect on Wednesday, 10/28. So, just like the current status facing the Marklund Hyde Center and Philip Center, the new restrictions will directly affect the Wasmond Center. This involves restrictions noted in the chart below. Resurgence mitigation also continues in place for Region 8 which affects our Geneva and Bloomingdale facilities.

In addition, none of our facilities can move up to the next phase of the State’s Long-Term Care Reopening Plan until at least 14 days after Regions 8 & 10 return to its target numbers regarding COVID-19 cases.

• Staff, resident COVID updates:

Happy to report that at the Wasmond Center (MWC), all staff and resident tests from last Friday came back negative. The second round were sent to the lab last night.
Also, in Geneva, while results from last week’s testing came back negative, testing continues for staff and residents at the Sayers, Tommy and Dreher Homes.

• PPE Supplies:

An important role of the Purchasing Department is to keep a close count on our supplies of PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment) including masks, face shields, goggles, gowns and gloves. Since the pandemic struck in Spring, they have been doing a terrific job of locating, purchasing, storing and distributing supplies we need to keep our staff and residents safe.
To date, we are well stocked and not experiencing a shortage of supplies.

And, thank you for your patience surrounding our need to follow the state-imposed restrictions. Our employees are working hard to provide the Marklund standard of care even in the midst of constant policy and procedure changes. We look forward to the day when we are back so some kind of normal routine.

Effective Oct. 23, 2020:

• New positive staff case at Wasmond Center

We received notification earlier today that a temp agency CNA that was assigned to a shift yesterday at the Wasmond Center has tested positive for COVID-19. This person worked the evening shift on the South hallway but left early.
Just as if this person was a Marklund employee, we are starting the process of contact tracing and testing staff and residents at MWC who may have been exposed. In addition, the facility will be fully disinfected.
This is the first time we have experienced this kind of situation with agency staff. All temp agencies that we contract with must follow our policies, which require that no one be sent to a Marklund site who had been tested for exposure elsewhere, or who has symptoms. Those who do get assigned to Marklund are screened upon entry.
We currently have no new updates on testing completed at the Geneva campus.

Effective Oct. 22, 2020:

• Long-Term Care Mitigations Begin Friday in Geneva, Bloomingdale

Following Gov. Pritzker’s tightened restrictions on the region that includes Kane and DuPage counties, IDPH released updated guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities which states that facilities in Region 8 (MHC and MPC, not MWC) will need to impose the Tier 1 mitigation as of tomorrow. This first level of adjustments include:

 

 

 

 

 

These adjustments will have to stay in place for 14 days after the region returns to target ranges with regard to the number of COVID-19 cases.

• Staff, resident COVID updates:

As of yesterday, we received 2 positive results in Geneva: one staff member in the Sayers Home (MSH) who had been tested outside of work, and one resident at the Dreher Home (MDH). The resident had been in isolation for over a week due to symptoms so we believe the isolation has been very effective. All of the remaining residents at MDH have tested negative for the second time, as have MDH staff .

Round one of resident testing at MSH has been completed, along with contact tracing/testing on staff. The results are pending.

Results for Tommy Home (MTH) residents and staff are all negative. An additional round of tests for MTH and MDH will be completed next week.

Fortunately, all affected residents who had previously tested positive in Geneva are stable and asymptomatic at his time.

At the Wasmond Center (MWC), all first-round resident tests have come back negative, with the second round being taken today. We also received all negative results on staff, and will re-test staff on Friday.

We appreciate patience and understanding from families as we navigate through these unusual times.

Effective Oct. 19, 2020

• One staff tests positive at Wasmond Center

I was informed this morning that one direct care employee at the Marklund Wasmond Center has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The last shift this person worked was Wednesday, Oct. 14, on the Center’s South Side.
Administration and nursing have already begun the contact tracing process for determining which staff will need to get tested. Employees will be notified by Michelle Orwig, administrator, or by a member of the Nursing Department if contact tracing shows a potential exposure situation.
Working with the Cook County Health Department and following IDPH guidelines, our nursing team will conduct tests on all residents who may have been exposed.
Due to the positive case, MWC has been moved back to Phase 1 of the IDPH Long-Term Care Reopening Plan, only allowing virtual visits.

• No new cases on Geneva Campus

Also, this morning we received all negative test results from additional staff testing completed last week in our Geneva locations. There are no new additional cases as of today on the Geneva campus.
Residents and affected staff from the Tommy and Dreher homes will be retested again today, while the Sayers Home will hopefully have the final round of testing on Wednesday. Each home has to be free of positive cases for 14 days and receive two rounds of negative results in order to be moved up to Phase 2.
The Marklund Richard Home advanced to Phase 2 as of this morning, Oct. 19.

Effective Oct. 16, 2020

• Additional Positive Cases on Geneva Campus

Since my last update on Wednesday, there have been 4 additional positive COVID-19 results which were discovered from our testing done as part of the contact tracing process. Two of the cases are staff—one from the Tommy Home (MTH) and one from the Dreher Home (MDH). The other two are residents of MTH, but both are currently asymptomatic. The bulk of the other test results received this morning have come back negative, with just a couple still outstanding. The residents who have tested positive are being cared for in isolation and are continuing to do very well, while positive staff are quarantining at home. Our nursing team will continue to contact trace and determine if additional staff need to be tested. All residents at Tommy, Sayers and Dreher homes will be retested as well, as we need to receive two rounds of negative results in order to stop checking.

• Following Procedures

This recent uptick in cases is sure to cause concern and anxiety among staff and families/guardians. To try to alleviate concerns, I want to assure everyone that we can be confident in the skill and knowledge of our nursing teams at all Marklund sites to follow all CDC, IDPH, and County Health Department procedures when it comes to contact tracing and testing.

Some staff have expressed concern as to WHY they may need to be tested or why they have not been. Surveillance testing is conducted as part of contact tracing. If you have potentially come into contact with a COVID-positive staff member or resident, or a high-risk environment, testing is required until two consecutive negative tests are confirmed via laboratory testing. Contact tracing for Administrative staff will be evaluated based on the CDC’s Close Contact definition (being within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more). This does not really apply for direct care since all are tested if they have worked the same shift with an employee or resident who has tested positive. Employees will be notified by their supervisor or by a member of the Nursing Department if contact tracing shows a potential exposure situation.

As a reminder the CDC has reported that 40 percent of all positive cases are asymptomatic. Therefore, we use testing as a mitigation effort to reduce COVID-19 transmission by early detection of the virus and by identifying asymptomatic positive individuals.

Thank you for the trust and confidence you have shown our direct care team during this trying time.

Effective Oct. 14, 2020

• Positive Cases on Geneva Campus

This morning I received reports that six additional staff on the Geneva campus have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
–Five cases are direct care staff who were detected through the contact tracing/Marklund-based testing taken at the Tommy (MTH) and Sayers (MSH) homes.
–The sixth is in the Administrative Wing in the Hyde Center and completed separate testing after an off-site exposure.

One of the newly positive employees had worked in MSH and then picked up a shift at the Dreher Home (MDH) prior to last week’s positive staff case at MTH/MSH being discovered.

Therefore, all residents at MDH will be tested, as will additional staff who are identified through contact tracing. We are also in the process of conducting contact tracing on administrative staff.

Please note that we are following all IDPH and CDC protocol with regard to sanitizing and deep cleaning of affected areas.

At this point, MTH, MSH, MRH, and MDH are in Phase 1 of the State of Illinois’ Long-Term Care Facility Reopening Plan, which restricts visitation and outings to virtual experiences only.  Reminder: Outdoor Visits are allowed once we are in Phase 2, while Indoor Visits are welcome in Phase 3.

As always, reach out to me directly with questions or concerns. My contact information is 630-593-5476 or gfonger@marklund.org.

Effective Oct. 13, 2020

• New Positive Cases at Geneva’s Tommy Home

Since my last update, two additional residents of the Marklund Tommy Home have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, bringing the count to three. One is asymptomatic and the result came from the first round of screening of all residents at both Tommy and Sayers homes. The other was symptomatic and tested prior to the first round being completed. All are stable and not presenting any symptoms today. Following IDPH and CDC protocol, the affected residents are being isolated, and staff are continuing to wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment).
Results for the first round of staff testing are still pending.
Round 2 testing for residents and staff is scheduled to be completed tomorrow.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly with questions or concerns. My contact information is 630-593-5476 or gfonger@marklund.org.

Effective Oct. 9, 2020

• First, the GOOD news:
  RESIDENTS & STAFF AT GENEVA’S RICHARD HOME RECEIVE NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS

I am pleased to report that all of the Marklund Richard Home staff and residents who went through two rounds of testing for the COVID-19 virus have received negative test results. Based on these results and our meeting all other requirements, we are hopeful that the Richard Home will move back to Phase 2 of the Illinois’ Long Term Care facilities reopening plan by Oct. 16, and Phase 3 by Oct. 31, if there are no additional positive cases.

• Now, the not-so-good news:
  NEW POSITIVE CASES AT GENEVA’S TOMMY & SAYERS HOMES
  

We received notification this morning that a staff member who works at both the Tommy Home (MTH) and Sayers Home (MSH) on the Geneva campus and a resident of MTH have tested positive for Coronavirus. The staff member’s last shift was Tuesday night. The resident was tested after presenting a fever on Wednesday. That individual, only our second positive resident case since March, has no other symptoms. Per IDPH requirements, we have already completed contact tracing and identified those employees who will need to be tested in addition to all of the residents at both MTH and MSH. We have enough kits on hand to test all 32 residents today, and are working with the lab to get additional kits delivered ASAP for the staff. These cases will move MTH and MSH back to Phase 1, restricting visits to being virtual only, modifying group activities, and having limited communal dining.

• A Note about In-Person Visitation Requirements:

Any parent/guardian who violates our visitation policy, particularly with regard to social distancing and mask wearing, will be given a warning, and then the next time it happens, will have their visitation rights suspended. If we have already seen this behavior in the past, the visitors will be given a verbal warning before their next visit. Marklund staff is looking out for the health and safety of all residents and therefore we will not accept any type of aggression. If anyone wishes to speak to me regarding our policy, please feel free to call or email me directly at 630-593-5476 or gfonger@marklund.org.

Effective Oct. 7, 2020

• RESIDENTS & STAFF AT GENEVA HOME HAVE NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS

We are very pleased to report that the first round of tests completed on residents and staff at the Marklund Richard Home (MRH) in Geneva have come back negative for the COVID-19 virus.
Per IDPH requirements, we need to do two rounds of testing. The second round will be completed today and will be overnighted to the lab tonight.
We are encouraged that no one is presenting with any COVID-like symptoms at this point.

Effective Oct. 2, 2020

• GENEVA CAMPUS EMPLOYEE TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

We received news this morning that a staff member at the Marklund Hyde Center (MHC) campus in Geneva, received positive test results for the COVID-19 virus. Her most recent shift was the morning of Monday, Sept. 28, at the Marklund Richard Home (MRH) during which time she wore a medical mask and face shield, as is required by all staff.

Following requirements from the Kane County Health Department as well as IDPH, we are in the process of conducting contact tracing, and will do two rounds of testing on all MRH residents and any other individuals who may have come in contact with this employee.

As always, all employees and residents will continue to be screened for symptoms at every shift change, and staff is continuing to clean high-touch surfaces as often as possible. In addition, our environmental services team will disinfect all areas using the new sprayer devices.

At this point, no other staff members or residents have been diagnosed with the virus.

Unfortunately, having this confirmed case pushes MRH back to Phase 1 of Illinois’ Long Term Care Reopening Plan. This means returning to:

• Virtual Visits Only
• Limited Communal Dining
• Virtual/Modified group activities
• No Outings
• Telehealth Visits/Medical-Necessary Offsite Visits

To progress from this Phase, we will need to be clear of all cases for 14 days.

Additional updates to follow as more information becomes available.

Effective Sept. 30, 2020

• SYMPTOM CLUSTER AT GENEVA HOME

As of this morning, we have three staff members at the Marklund Dreher Home in Geneva who reported COVID-19-like symptoms within 72 hours of each other.

Per IDPH guidelines, we are required to inform staff and parents/guardians when receiving multiple reports of staff and/or residents in the same Marklund location presenting COVID-like symptoms within a 72-hour period.

To monitor the situation closely, we will continue to follow our protocol of screening staff and residents at each shift change, and to have staff self-screen mid-shift and report any change in temperature or onset of new symptoms. In addition, we are disinfecting each home using new disinfectant sprayer devises along with traditional methods.

Effective Sept. 28, 2020

• WASMOND CENTER STAFF RECEIVE NEGATIVE RESULTS

I am pleased to report that all of the Wasmond Center staff and residents who went through two rounds of testing for the COVID-19 virus have received negative test results. Based on these results and our meeting all other requirements, the Wasmond Center will move to Phase 3 of the Illinois’ Long Term Care facilities reopening plan on Saturday, Oct. 3.

As noted in a previous update, Phase 3 does allow us to hold Indoor Visits with restrictions and guidelines. These guidelines are meant to lessen the risk of exposure to our residents and staff. Keep in mind, any positive test will move the affected site back to Phase 1.

Outdoor visits remain the preferred option. When weather or other circumstances do not allow for outdoor visits, indoor visits may be scheduled.

–Visits are by appointment only. Please call the facility to schedule a visit. Each indoor visit will be limited to 30 minutes to allow for thorough cleaning/disinfection between scheduled visits.
–Indoor Visiting Hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
–Evening/weekend visits are available upon request and if staffing allows.
–Visitors must be at least 18-years old and are limited to parents/guardians, siblings, and individuals listed on the guardian’s approved visitation list. Residents may have up to two visitors at a time, but visitors must be from the same household if visiting together. –(Exceptions may be made for younger siblings and compassionate care visits.)
Visitors must remain in the designated meeting area, and will not be able to use the building’s facilities (restrooms, water fountains, etc.)
–Visitors must be pre-screened on the phone by facility staff between 12-24 hours before their appointment time and be screened in person by facility staff at the time of their appointment.
–Visitors with any of the CDC COVID-19 Symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html) should not visit the facility! Please review the symptom list each time before coming to Marklund as the listed symptoms may change.

–Visitors must notify the facility’s Administrator or Director of Nursing immediately if they develop any of the COVID-19 symptoms listed on the CDC website within the three days following their visit.
–Residents with any of the COVID-19 symptoms listed on the CDC website will not be able to have in-person visits. Virtual visitation may be possible as an alternative for some of these situations.
–All visitors must wear a face covering/face mask at all times when on Marklund property for a visit, maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from residents, and practice proper hand hygiene.

In addition, I am pleased to report that by moving into Phase 3, our residents will also have some restrictions removed regarding activities. We will be allowed to resume the following:
–Outings for residents off facility grounds (modified to meet social distancing requirements, and outdoor settings preferred).
–Communal dining as long as residents can maintain 6-foot distance (formerly limited to 25% of seating capacity).

The care team and I cannot stress enough how important it is that all visitors follow these guidelines. We want to do whatever we can to keep your loved ones safe and healthy, as well as those who work with them. 24/7/365.

Effective Sept. 25, 2020

• WASMOND CENTER RESIDENTS CLEARED
  

After two rounds of testing, all of the residents evaluated at the Marklund Wasmond Center have received negative test results for the COVID-19 virus.
IDPH regulations required that we test those residents and staff who had possibly been exposed to a PSP who had reported a positive result. Those individuals were identified through contact tracing.
Currently no other staff members have had a positive result. We are awaiting the report for the second round taken on employees.
Once through this testing process, we are confident that the Wasmond Center will advance to Phase 3 of the State’s Long Term Care facilities reopening plan.

Effective Sept. 21, 2020

• GENEVA & BLOOMINGDALE SITES MOVE TO PHASE 3! INDOOR VISITS ALLOWED WITH RESTRICTIONS

Based on meeting requirements for the State of Illinois Long Term Care Reopening Plan, the Marklund Hyde Center and Philip Center have moved into Phase 3. While Outdoor Visits remain the preferred option during Phase 3, Indoor Visits will be allowed with the following guidelines. These guidelines are meant to lessen the risk of exposure to our residents and staff. Keep in mind, any positive test will move the affected site back to Phase 1.
* Outdoor visits remain the preferred option during Phase 3 due to decreased risk of exposure to COVID-19 for all residents and staff in our facilities. When weather or other circumstances do not allow for outdoor visits, indoor visits may be scheduled.
* Visits are by appointment only. Please call the facility to schedule a visit. Each indoor visit will be limited to 30 minutes to allow for thorough cleaning/disinfection between scheduled visits.
* Indoor Visiting Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
* Evening/weekend visits are available upon request and if staffing/circumstances allow.
* Visitors must be at least 18-years old and are limited to parents/guardians, siblings, and individuals listed on the guardian’s approved visitation list. Residents may have up to two visitors at a time, but visitors must be from the same household if visiting together. (Exceptions may be made for younger siblings and compassionate care visits.)
* Visitors must remain in the designated meeting area, and will not be able to use the building’s facilities (restrooms, water fountains, etc.)
* Visitors must be pre-screened on the phone by facility staff between 12-24 hours before their appointment time and be screened in person by facility staff at the time of their appointment.
* Visitors with any of the CDC COVID-19 Symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html) should not visit the facility! Please review the symptom list each time before coming to Marklund as the listed symptoms may change.
* Visitors must notify the facility’s Administrator or Director of Nursing immediately if they develop any of the COVID-19 symptoms listed on the CDC website within the three days following their visit.
* Residents with any of the COVID-19 symptoms listed on the CDC website will not be able to have in-person visits. Virtual visitation may be possible as an alternative for some of these situations.
* All visitors must wear a face covering/face mask at all times when on Marklund property for a visit, maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from residents, and practice proper hand hygiene as directed by Marklund staff.
The Indoor Visitation Fact Sheet is attached to the email, and is also available on the Marklund website at www.www.marklund.org.
In addition, I am pleased to report that by moving into Phase 3, our residents will also have some restrictions removed regarding activities. We will be allowed to resume the following:
* Outings for residents off facility grounds (modified to meet social distancing requirements, and outdoor settings preferred)
* Communal dining as long as residents can maintain 6-foot distance (formerly limited to 25% of seating capacity)
* On-site hair salons can open.

• WASMOND CENTER EMPLOYEES HAVE NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS
  

More great news! We are very pleased to report that in addition to the first round of COVID-19 tests that were negative for residents, the first round of tests completed on MWC staff have also come back negative. Only those who may have come in contact with the one staff member who had a positive result two weeks ago are being tested. We are still awaiting results of the second round of tests for those residents who had been identified through the contact tracing process. Employees will also take part in second-round testing this week.
Since MWC is currently in the testing process, it must remain in Phase 2. We anticipate it progressing to Phase 3 in the near future.

PHASE 3 INDOOR VISITATION FACT SHEET

Click here to see our Fact Sheet for Phase Three Indoor Visitation

Effective Sept. 11, 2020

• WASMOND CENTER EMPLOYEE TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID

A Personal Support Professional (PSP) at the Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin, has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Her most recent shift was on Monday, Sept. 7, during which time she wore a medical mask, as is required by all staff.
This is the first positive case we’ve had since early June.
Per new IDPH requirements, we will need to do testing of residents and staff at MWC who may have come in contact with her.
In addition, all staff and residents will continue to be screened for symptoms at every shift change, and staff is continuing to clean high-touch surfaces as often as possible.
At this point, no other staff members or residents have been diagnosed with the virus.

PHASE 2 OUTDOOR VISITATION FAQs

Please click HERE to see our “Phase 2 Outdoor Visitation FAQs” sheet.

Effective Aug. 31, 2020

• FLU SHOTS WILL BE MANDATORY

For the 2020-21 flu season, Marklund will make the influenza vaccination mandatory for all staff and residents.

Requiring an annual flu vaccine demonstrates our commitment to protect the safety and health of our residents, many of whom already have compromised immune systems, as well as our staff.

Flu vaccination for health care personnel has been recommended by health facilities for years, yet many people choose not to get vaccinated. So, while the nation still faces the COVID-19 pandemic, and specific treatments and vaccinations are not yet available, we felt this is one way we could work to keep our Marklund family healthy. Staff who receive the vaccination not only help control the spread of the flu virus to others on our campuses but to their loved ones in their own homes as well.

Flu vaccinations will be offered to staff free of charge during flu clinics held at each campus this September and October. (Announcements as to specific dates and times will be made in the Connections employee newsletter.)
The only exemptions to this mandatory policy include:
* Medical contraindication to receiving the vaccine
* Religious belief that prohibits the vaccination
* Received flu shot elsewhere
* Personal

Making the flu vaccine mandatory is a step that has also been taken by many of the health care organizations throughout the nation.  We hope that families who plan on visiting their loved ones during the upcoming flu season will consider getting vaccinated as well for the same reason—to keep our residents and staff as healthy and safe as possible.

Effective Aug. 25, 2020

• UPDATES MADE TO MODIFIED TEMPORARY ABSENCE POLICY

All staff received a the updated Modified Temporary Absence Policy today via email. Please review the policy in its entirety for important changes. Highlights include the following:

Implementing Bonuses for Essential Staff
Hyde, Philip and Wasmond Center Essential Staff listed below will receive a 10% bonus for hours worked from 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31:  PSPs* (this includes full-time, part-time, IHR and Therapy Aides and other positions who are picking up as PSPs), TAAs, Nurses, Housekeepers, Houseparents, Laundry, and Dietary. *Please note that salaried staff who pick up essential staff shifts are not eligible for the 10% bonus. In addition, Day School Essential Staff listed below will receive a 10% bonus while working in the Multi-Needs classes and a 20% bonus while working in Life-Skills classes for hours worked from 11 p.m. Saturday, August 22 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31: Paraprofessionals, Teachers, Nurse, BCBA, Instructional Coaches, RBT, Housekeepers, and Dietary.

Mandatory Quarantine for Travelers—including 24-hour trips
To protect our residents and staff, we are implementing a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for staff who will be returning from traveling for 24-hours or more to any state determined to be a hot spot for COVID-19.
Any parents or guardians who plan on visiting with our residents will also be required to follow this policy by waiting 14 days after returning from a high-risk state before coming to a Marklund site to see their loved ones.

• ADDITIONAL PPE TO BE PROVIDED

Direct care staff will be provided with new PPE (personal protective equipment) including goggles and/or face shields. Direct care staff will be required to wear the equipment when providing personal care or when in close proximity (6 feet or less) for a prolonged period of time of 15 minutes or more.

• UNDERSTANDING THE PHASES

While Illinois remains in Phase 4 of the governor’s Restore Illinois plan, All of our residential facilities are currently in Phase 2 of the State of Illinois Updated Interim Guidance for Nursing Homes and Other Long-Term Care Facilities and Programs.

Progressing or regressing through the Phases will involve many different factors, including case status in the facility, case status in the community, staffing levels, personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supply usage and a testing plan and response strategy. Changes in any of these factors could mandate a return to a stricter Phase with more stringent mitigation efforts. The State of Illinois can impose new restrictions/recommendations on facilities based on community virus metrics – this could include temporary stricter visitation, dining and activity policies.

• A FEW CHANGES OF NOTE FOR VISITATION:

Guidance for Phase 2 will not change much in terms of what we are currently doing at our facilities; however there are a few things that will impact parents and guardians:
* While two people can visit a resident at the same time, they must be from the same household. Therefore
any parents, guardian, family or other approved visitors that do not live in the same household will need to schedule separate visit times moving forward.
* All visitors must additionally sign in with their name, address, and phone number when visiting (and email if available). This is to assist in contact tracing effort should there be a potential exposure at the facility.
* Visitors also must contact the facility Administrator immediately if they have an onset of any COVID symptoms in the three days following a visit to Marklund. The list of current symptoms can be found on the CDC website.
* Unfortunately, we are still unable to offer indoor visitation at this time. Indoor visitation will be allowed starting in Phase 3, although outdoor visitation will remain the primary means of visiting our residents as it offers the safest environment both for our residents and our visitors.

Marklund will communicate with all parents and guardians any time we will be moving forward or backward a phase, or have any additional mitigations imposed by the state.

Effective July 24, 2020

• MANDATORY QUARANTINE FOR TRAVELERS

To protect our residents and staff, we have decided to follow the City of Chicago/Cook County’s Emergency Travel Order and implementing a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for staff who will be returning from any state determined to be a hot spot for COVID-19. Our policy specifically focuses on travel to a high-risk state for 72 hours or more. This requirement is included in the most recent update to our Temporary Modified Absence Policy and effective Tuesday, July 28, 2020.
Specific details regarding the quarantine is included in the Policy, which was emailed to all staff Friday, July 24. Be sure to read our updated policy in its entirety.
Any parents or guardians who plan on visiting with our residents will also be required to follow this policy by waiting 14 days after returning from a high risk state before coming to a Marklund site to see their loved ones.
As of today, the high risk states are:
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah. You can also click on this link which will take you to the updated list of high risk states:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/emergency-travel-order.html

Effective June 30, 2020

• FINAL WEEKLY UPDATE

Since we officially moved into Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan last Friday, I will only be sending out updates on an as-needed basis. I have said it before but I couldn’t be more proud of the way our entire staff stepped up and did whatever was necessary to maintain the excellent care for our residents and students throughout this pandemic. It is a very scary time for everyone and our staff never let our residents and students down.
We continue to report that we currently have no positive COVID-19 cases among residents or staff. Several employees have been tested over the past 3 months but only 6 ended up with positive results and had no hospitalizations. One resident tested positive for the virus, and she recovered amazingly quickly.
We know we’ve been very blessed, and with many areas seeing growth in the number of cases again, are realistic in understanding that we are not out of the woods yet. We are diligently following all CDC and IDPH guidelines with regard to social distancing between staff, wearing masks, deep cleaning, and allowing only outdoor visitations, so we pray we will continue on the path of keeping everyone safe while allowing more staff to return to the campuses.
Our next hurdle is determining the best course of action for resuming class at Marklund Day School. Staff is currently reviewing the newest guidelines sent out by the Illinois State Board of Education and will determine how to provide the best education—whether in person, remotely, or a combination of both—to our students.
Residentially, we know that the CDS program will be closed at least through Aug. 31st, and we are hopeful that it will open soon after that. We are waiting on guidance from IDPH concerning that.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at 630-593-5476 or at gfonger@marklund.org.

Effective June 23, 2020

• MOVING INTO PHASE 4: Outlining the plan!

Monday morning, the State of Illinois announced guidelines for reopening and restoring Illinois businesses by moving into Phase 4: Revitalization, effective June 26, 2020. These restrictions will be re-evaluated and possibly revised throughout Phase 4 by State of Illinois officials. We will keep you informed of changes. In addition, an updated Modified Absence Policy will be sent to all staff this week.
Based on the guidelines, our administrative/office and non-direct care areas will adhere to updated guidelines including the following:
The Revitalization Phase of the Restore Illinois allows gatherings/meetings of up to 50 people with proper social distancing and wearing masks.
Everyone must be accountable to continue to social distance, frequently wash hands, and wear face coverings to maintain progress in overcoming COVID-19. Please be sure to be especially conscious to cover coughs and sneezes to reduce potential spread of illness as well as reduce any concerns of others.
Continue staff entry health screenings for COVID-19 symptoms via in-person with temperature testing and conversation.
Offices/Common Areas may operate at maximum occupancy of 50%, encouraging staggered start/end times and attendance days. Those who can work remotely may do so on a rotating basis per manager’s approval.

• NO NEW COVID-19 CASES

We are pleased to report that we currently have no positive COVID-19 cases among residents or staff.

Effective June 19, 2020

• WONDERFUL NEWS—OUTDOOR VISITS ALLOWED BY APPOINTMENT!

IDPH announced this morning that Long-Term Care Facilities may allow outdoor visitation for residents when THE FOLLOWING conditions are met:
-Visitations must be limited to two visitors at a time per resident.
-Visits are limited to outdoor areas only.
-For the duration of each visit, the resident and visitor must wear a face covering.
-Visitors must schedule an appointment with the Q of each facility (or the Nursing Unit Coordinator at MPC) to visit a resident.
-The maximum number of residents and visitors in the outdoors space at one time is based on the size of the outdoor space. Each Marklund facility will determine the maximum number of residents and visitors who can simultaneously occupy that area. Staff are required by IDPH to ensure social distancing between the resident and all visitors and the use of face coverings.
-Each facility will set the maximum number of visitors allowed in a single day.
-Staff will prescreen visitors via phone with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) symptom checklist not more than 24 hours in advance. Visitors will also be screened on arrival with the CDC symptom checklist and a temperature check. Visitors displaying symptoms should not visit the facility.
-Residents with active COVID-19 infection, either laboratory confirmed or symptomatic, are not allowed to participate in outdoor visits. (Currently we have no positive cases!) Residents receiving visitors will also be screened with the CDC symptom checklist prior to visitor’s arrival.
-Each facility may set the time duration of each visit. Marklund may cancel visits at any given time, depending on the infection status of the facility, staffing levels, weather conditions, and/or other factors affecting the ability to conduct safe visits.
-These guidelines are part of Marklund’s new COVID-19 Visitation Policy, effective 6.19.20.
-We are so happy to welcome visitors back to Marklund. It is certainly something that everyone needs
after this very long time apart.
-Happy Fathers Day to all the dads and those who serve in father-like roles!

Effective June 16, 2020

• NO NEW CASES

We presently have no positive COVID-19 reports, nor any clusters of symptom-like illnesses. All residents appear to be doing well. We are continuing to follow protocol of screening all staff when they arrive at work and all residents at shift changes. In addition, all employees are wearing medical masks and are practicing social distancing requirements.

• PREPARING FOR PHASE 4

Current indications are for Illinois to move into Phase 4 on June 26. Our administrative team is preparing for what that means for Marklund staff and residents. At this point, IDPH (Illinois Dept. of Public Health) has already determined that any CDS (Community Day Services) programs will remain closed through Aug. 31, and that visitor restrictions will continue to be upheld. We know that IHCA (Illinois Health Care Association) representatives are reaching out to IDPH to move up the date in which we allow visitors. We will keep you updated on this matter.

Effective June 9, 2020

• NO NEW CASES

We are pleased to report that we have not had any positive COVID-19 cases since last week, nor any clusters of symptom-like illnesses. We are continuing to screen all staff when they arrive at work and all residents at shift changes. Direct care staff self-screen at mid-shift as well. All employees will continue to wear masks until further notice.

• GENEVA CAMPUS SUMMER GAMES

MHC will hold a modified version of Summer Games this Saturday, June 13, beginning at 10:15 a.m. This event is for direct care staff and residents only; no volunteers or family/guardians. Our Marketing & Communications team will post photos and videos on Marklund’s social media sites during and after the games. (Reminder: the Wasmond Center will hold its Summer Games with staff and residents only on June 26.)

• VIRTUAL EVENT REPLACES ANNUAL GOLF OUTING

The 38th Annual Golf Classic is now going to be a virtual event since we cannot host large events this summer. Please consider joining us for this fun and “unconventional” VIRTUAL Cyber Classic on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 6-7 p.m.  Participation is FREE, but you must register to receive the link.  Registration and sponsorship opportunities can be found at: www.www.marklund.org/cyberclassic/.

Effective June 3, 2020

• GENEVA NURSE HAS POSITIVE RE-TEST

We learned yesterday afternoon that a nurse on the Geneva campus who had tested positive for COVID-19 in mid May had a re-test come back positive. She works in the Van Der Molen Home and the Haverkampf Home. She is currently asymptomatic and had been following protocol with being screened at the start of her shift, wearing masks, self-screening at mid-shift, washing hands and using hand sanitizer. We will continue with our practice of screening all residents at every shift change and monitor them along with staff who work in those homes.

• SYMPTOM-LIKE CLUSTER AT SAYERS HOME, GENEVA

Three staff members who work in the Marklund Sayers Home (MSH)—a therapy aide, a PSP and an IHR PSP —have reported COVID-like symptoms within a 72-hour period. They each will continue to self-monitor symptoms and follow up with their own physicians as necessary. Again, all screening and PPE (personal protective equipment) protocols remain in effect.

• RESIDENTS / STAFF

To date, since mid-March, we have had one resident and six staff members test positive for COVID-19. All have recovered without hospitalization.

Effective June 2, 2020

• Mandatory In-Service for Returning Staff

Per Illinois’ Phase 3 guidelines, one of the things that we are required to do when “reopening” the organization to those who have been working remotely is train our returning staff in regard to COVID-19 and related policies. All non-direct care staff should receive copies of the policies from their supervisors today.

Starting June 3rd, there will be an in-service sheet at the front desk of the Hyde Center, Philip Center, Ann Haskins Center at Marklund Day School and Wasmond Center. Please note that everyone except PSPs and nurses will need to sign one of the in-service sheets.
Copies of the in-service will also be available at the desks in case staff did not receive them prior to arriving at work.
These in-service sheets will stay at the front desks for the entire month of June for staff to sign as they rotate back in.

• PHILIP CENTER SUMMER GAMES

MPC staff will run a modified version of Summer Games this Friday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. This event is for direct care staff and residents only; no volunteers or family/guardians. Please watch Marklund’s social media sites for photos and videos from the games. (Reminder: a similar format will take place at the Hyde Center on June 13, and at the Wasmond Center on June 26.)

• RESIDENTS / STAFF

We are happy to report we have no residential COVID cases at any of the Marklund locations, nor any new reports of positive cases among staff.

Effective May 29, 2020

• ILLINOIS IS NOW IN PHASE 3!

As of today, in response to Illinois moving into Phase 3, we have created a Restore Marklund plan. Our plan will last at least 28 days and be based on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois.
In this phase, many of the same guidelines and protocols are in place with regard to Direct Care staff, but office/cubical staff—those who have been classified as non-essential—who have been teleworking for the past several weeks, are now able to come back on site. Specific guidelines are in place for these employees as well, such as staggering shifts, wearing facemasks when with others, social distancing, keeping meetings to 10 and under, and being screened upon entry. Staff will receive a video message today via email discussing Phase 3 expectations.

• VISITATION RESTRICTION

Based on recommendations from the CDC and IDPH, we are continuing to restrict visitors and volunteers at all of our Marklund locations. We hope to be able to lift this restriction in the near future.

• RESIDENTS / STAFF

We are pleased to note we currently have no residential COVID cases at any of the Marklund locations, nor any new reports of positive cases among staff.

Effective May 26, 2020

• RESIDENTS / STAFF

We are pleased to note we currently have no residential COVID cases at any of the Marklund locations, nor any new reports of positive cases among staff.

• SUMMER GAMES MODIFIED FOR STAFF & RESIDENTS ONLY

As we reported earlier this month, due to the ongoing COVID-19 concerns and the State’s Phase 3 guidelines affecting large group gatherings, we are modifying our 2020 Summer Games.  Instead of being mass gatherings, each Marklund site will hold adapted games that only involve residents and staff. The Marketing/Communications staff will post real-time videos and photos on our social media sites so that families/guardians and volunteers can view the progress and virtually share in the fun. Event dates are: Philip Center—Friday, June 5; Hyde Center, Saturday, June 13; Wasmond Center, Friday, June 26.

• MARKLUND SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow us on SOCIAL MEDIA to stay connected. Find us on Facebook, (www.facebook.com/MarklundCharity), Twitter (www.twitter.com/MarklundCharity) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/marklundcharity)

• REOPENING PLAN

We are finalizing the plan for our Phase 3 reopening and will share details by Friday.

Effective May 24, 2020

• COVID-19 SYMPTOM-LIKE CLUSTER AT WASMOND CENTER

This weekend, we received confirmation that three staff members at the Marklund Wasmond Center in Elgin—all PSPs—are reporting COVID-like symptoms. Two have been tested and are awaiting results; the third is following up with a physician. We are continuing with our regimen of screening staff and residents at every shift change. In addition, MWC administration requires staff to self-screen mid-shift and report to the nurse if they have any change in temperature or new onset of symptoms.
Employees at all facilities are still required to wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment).

• RESIDENTS CLEAR

We are pleased to note we currently have no residential COVID cases at any of the Marklund locations.

• TODAY’S CHICAGO TRIBUNE ARTICLE

Anyone who saw the front page article in today’s Chicago Tribune may be concerned of COVID-19 virus running rampant in facilities that serve individuals with developmental disabilities. That article focused specifically on long-term care facilities run by the State of Illinois. We have been fortunate so far at Marklund and feel that the precautions that we took early in the pandemic crisis of keeping residents at home, restricting volunteers and visitors, screening all staff, modifying our absence policy, and having non-essential staff to work remotely has helped keep our positive cases to a minimum. Our staff continues to assist residents in connecting with families and friends via FaceTime and Zoom apps, and have worked very hard making sure our residents stay busy and happy—and most importantly, safe.
Have a blessed Memorial Day holiday.

Effective May 20, 2020

• COVID-19 Symptom Cluster at Geneva Home

As of this morning, we have three staff members—a nurse and two PSPs—at the Marklund Haverkampf Home in Geneva who reported COVID-19-like symptoms within 72 hours of each other. All three have been tested and are awaiting results.

As I have mentioned in previous updates, per new IDPH guidelines, we are required to inform staff and parents/guardians when receiving multiple reports of staff and/or residents in the same Marklund location presenting COVID-like symptoms within a 72-hour period.

A resident also presented symptoms within this time frame but has already received good news of a negative test result.

To monitor the situation closely, we will continue to follow our protocol of screening staff and residents at each shift change, and to have staff self-screen mid-shift and report any change in temperature or onset of new symptoms.

Effective May 18, 2020:

• A Note from Gil Fonger:

From the very beginning, we made the decision to be as transparent as possible
with our parents, guardians and staff. Since we started doing Updates on March 12, we have reported any staff or residents with positive COVID-19 tests along with changes to IDPH/CDC protocols. As of Friday, we are now reporting any facility that has three or more, staff or residents, who have COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms.

I want to assure you that we are following the latest protocols. Every staff member is checked for symptoms before their shift and all residents are checked every shift for symptoms. Every staff is provided a new medical grade mask for each shift; this is to give an extra layer of protection for the residents and their fellow staff if they are asymptomatic while still having the COVID-19 virus. The fact is that we live in a world with this new virus and, until there is a vaccine or a reliable treatment, it is going to be a challenge.

Please know that keeping everyone safe is all I think about; I have no higher priority. I have no doubt that we are going to make it through this and, as do you, I look forward to the time when we can carefully open back up again. Thank you for your trust in Marklund.

• Third Geneva Campus Employee Tests Positive for COVID

This weekend we received confirmation that we now have three staff members on the Geneva campus—a nurse, a PSP, and TAA—who have tested positive for COVID-19. Two of these employees, the nurse and the PSP, do work out of the same home—Marklund Haverkampf Home. The nurse also works in the VanDerMolen home while the TAA is at Tommy Home.
Following protocol, we have notified the Kane County Health Department (KCHD), and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and will keep them updated as required.
In these kinds of instances, the IDPH recommends staff to self-screen mid-shift and report to the nurse if they have any change in temperature or new onset of symptoms—I am pleased to report that the direct care team in Geneva had already implemented that practice.
In addition, all staff are wearing appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment).

Effective May 12, 2020

• Phase Projections for Reopening Plan at Marklund

As of today, based on information provided by Gov. Pritzker’s office, we have created a projection of how we are seeing possible phases for our getting back to normal—or at least a new normal. This is obviously our prediction for the best case scenario, and dates/specific guidelines are still subject to change.
As we are currently in Phase 2, we see Phase 3 going into effect on May 31. At that point, Social Distancing/Wearing Masks/Screening for fever will remain active, our School/CDS programs will remain closed, gatherings will be allowed only for groups of 10 and under, and Outings and visitor restrictions will still be in place. Small groups (under 10) may work in the office although telework is still encouraged for non-essential staff, and intercampus travel will be allowed only as needed.
In Phase 4, which we hope will go into effect in mid-July, we see more restrictions lifted, particularly with regard to allowing residence visitors, outings with guidelines, larger gatherings of up to 50 people, welcoming back volunteers with restrictions, and reopening of our School and CDS programs under specific guidelines. During this phase we also expect to continue the Social Distancing/Mask/Screening protocol.
I will continue to update everyone on the phases as we move forward.

• No Residential COVID-19 Cases

We are pleased to report that as of today, there are no positive cases of COVID-19 among our residential population.

• Celebrating our Nurses and Teachers

Last week, we celebrated our sincere appreciation of our nurses and teachers during National Nurses Week and National Teacher Appreciation Week. These staff members have taken on so much more over these past 7+ weeks and have done so with incredible passion and professionalism. We are blessed to have such amazing people on the Marklund team!

Effective April 28, 2020

• COVID TEST STATUS

Effective today, we continue to have no COVID-19 cases.

• GOVERNOR EXTENDS STAY-AT-HOME ORDER

Governor JB Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order through Saturday, May 30. This order will go into effect on May 1. However, an Illinois court temporarily blocked the order, due to a lawsuit by Rep. Darren Bailey, which says the governor exceeded his authority and is violating residents’ civil rights. The Illinois Attorney General is working on behalf of the governor to have that ruling overturned. We anticipate the Governor’s order to be upheld.

• MASKS REQUIRED FOR ALL STAFF

As of May 1st, all employees will wear a mask when being tested by the nurse before starting work and whenever they will be closer than 6 feet to another employee or resident.

• ENFORCING SOCIAL DISTANCING ON SITE

Marklund will be putting up “Maximum Occupancy” signs outside of certain areas/rooms such as conference rooms, break rooms, bathrooms, eating areas, offices with multiple work stations, etc., to limit the number of staff who use these areas at any one time.

• FOLLOWING NEW IDPH GUIDELINES

We received and implemented new procedure guidelines from IDPH re:
Creating a return–to-work plan for any staff who would have a positive COVID test
Adding new symptom-related questions for daily staff and resident screenings to include assessment of: headache, chills, muscle pain, loss of taste and smell.

• THANK YOU!

Thank you to all who participated in our Virtual Run, Walk & Roll event last weekend! Also, it is very heartwarming to see how many volunteers, parents/guardians, and friends have dropped off home-made masks, food, gift cards and greeting cards for staff and residents. We are thankful for their care and generosity!

Effective April 21, 2020

• NO CASES THIS WEEK

Effective today, April 21, there are no residents or staff diagnosed with COVID-19 based on any testing. One resident at the Wasmond Center was hospitalized yesterday due to a different condition and was tested due to hospital protocol.

• COMMUNICATING ABOUT COVID-19

This past Sunday, April 19, Gov. Pritzker’s office released an official guidance regarding communication about COVID-19 cases in Long-Term Care facilities. This notice officially stated that facilities are required to keep residents, next of kin/guardians, and staff notified when a resident or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, without revealing personally identifying information except to the next of kin. The notifications must include verbal and written communications. The facility must also coordinate with local and state health departments. We are pleased to note that this has been Marklund’s practice since the pandemic began in Illinois, and have taken the additional step to extend the notification to the families/guardians of the roommates of the residents who had been tested. However, we only do that with the permission of the parent/guardian of the resident who has been diagnosed or is being tested, due to HIPPA regulations.

• VOLUNTEER WEEK

This week is National Volunteer Recognition Week. Marklund suspended volunteer visits on March 10, and we—residents and staff—truly miss seeing those who support Marklund and its residents through our Volunteer Program. We want to thank those who have reached out asking how they can help us during this time, and are grateful to the generosity and creativity of so many who have provided food, masks, letters, signs, donations and prayers. We hope to begin seeing them in the coming weeks.

Effective April 14, 2020

• WASMOND CENTER RESIDENTS TEST NEGATIVE

Great news! The three residents at the Marklund Wasmond Center (MWC) in Elgin tested negative for COVID-19, according to official lab results received today. They have been taken off isolation protocol.

• WELL STOCKED WITH PPEs

At this point, our supply of Personal Protective Equipment remains good, although we are continually going to be using it due to the temporary policy put in effect on April 2:
All Marklund nurses, PSPs, housekeepers, house parents, and other staff providing resident care or services in resident rooms are to be wearing a facemask at all times, using the guidelines described in the new Extended Use of Procedure or Surgical Mask policy. All other staff working in a residential facility will be issued reusable cloth masks to wear while in the facility. Staff will be responsible to wash/disinfect their masks each night before reusing them at their next shift. Staff or necessary non-employees who will be working in close contact with other employees/non-employees in non-residential facilities will be issued a cloth or a procedure mask based on the specific situation, as determined by the Administrator/Director of Nursing for that campus.

We are accepting homemade cloth masks. Please contact the administrators to set up drop-off arrangements.

• EVENT CHANGES

Based upon the latest guidance of Gov. Pritzker not to have large gatherings in the Spring or Summer, we have made changes to a couple of our upcoming fundraising events:
The Run, Walk & Roll-Bloomingdale set for April 26 has been modified as a VIRTUAL 5K/1 mile event still held on April 26. Visit www.www.marklund.org/series/5kbloomingdale for details.
The 38th Annual Marklund Golf Classic has moved from June 4 to Aug. 27.  Stay tuned for details.

 

Effective April 2, 2020

• NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEARING FACEMASKS

On March 31, 2020, the IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) released “Interim Recommendations” for the wearing of facemasks at all times during work shifts by those working in group living facilities. Universal masking will reduce the risk of transmission from staff who may be carrying the COVID-19 virus but are asymptomatic (have no visible symptoms).
In order to optimize our current supply of facemasks, we will apply an extended use procedure, and all staff are going to be in-serviced on this beginning April 2.
Therefore, as of 4/2/2020 until further notice, all Marklund nurses, PSPs, housekeepers, house parents, and other staff providing resident services will wear a facemask at all times, using the guidelines described in the new Extended Use of Procedure or Surgical Mask policy.

 

Effective March 20, 2020

• GOVERNOR’S ‘STAY-AT-HOME ORDER’

As the latest step in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a “Stay-at-Home Order” on Friday, March 20. The order will be effective at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 21 through April 7. In order to abide by this order, only those staff considered as “essential” will be allowed to go to work at the Marklund locations. At Marklund, “essential” staff includes those providing direct care to our residents: nurses, PSPs, TAAs, house parents, as well as laundry, dietary and housekeeping staff. In addition, Administrators and Senior Staff will continue to be on site on a rotating basis.

Be assured, during this “Stay-at-Home order,” everyone will be getting paid.

 

Effective March 17, 2020:

• NO ‘DAY PASSES’

In keeping with the latest guidance by IDPH and CDC, and in our continued efforts to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff, effective  immediately, parents/guardians CANNOT take their loved ones out on a day pass. If they do, the resident cannot return until visiting restrictions have been lifted.

• VISITATION RESTRICTION EXTENDED

Out of an abundance of caution, we have extended the no visitor restriction through April 15, with the exception of essential visitors only (those for residents receiving hospice services, residents with dementia, or residents receiving documented psychosocial supports). This restriction follows guidelines of IDHS.

• CDS TEMPORARY CANCELLATION

In response to COVID–19, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is taking extra precautions to keep individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities safe and providers supported during this time. Therefore, it is their decision that all Community Day Services (CDS) sites will be closed Tuesday, March 17 through April 15. This timeline may be adjusted by IDHS as the COVID-19 situation changes. During this time, a modified programming and activities plan will be put in place for all of our residents in their homes, utilizing social distancing and standard precautions. Community Clients who participate in the Marklund CDC programs will unfortunately not be able to visit Marklund sites during this time. Please reach out to administrators, nurse managers or Qs with questions or concerns.

• Marklund Day School Closure—through April 7

 

 

 

MEDIA KIT

For media inquiries, contact Dawn Lassiter-Brueske, Director of Marketing and Communication, at 630-593-5467.

 

Markund media policies:

No client or staff member may be interviewed or photographed without permission of the Director of Marketing or a representative of the Marketing Department.

Due to respect for our clients and following HIPAA regulations, it is the policy of this organization not to publicize the last names of our clients or students. We therefore refer to them in all publications or media situations as their first name and last initial or simply by first name.

PLEASE NOTE: If you encounter anyone who is soliciting on behalf of Marklund, with the exception of persons selling subscriptions to the Daily Herald, please notify the authorities. Those selling subscriptions must be able to prove they are working for the Daily Herald and must only accept payment for the subscriptions not donations to Marklund. Marklund receives 50 cents for each subscription sold by those soliciting within the Daily Herald/Marklund partnership. Anyone wishing to make a donation to Marklund should do so through the website or mail.