Thirteen employees at Seminole nursing home test positive for COVID-19

SEMINOLE — The nursing home at the center of an outbreak where three patients have died announced Saturday that three more patients and 13 employees have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Michael Mason, the executive director of Freedom Square of Seminole, a sprawling retirement community, said the company sought help from the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County to help “develop more aggressive mitigation strategies" to combat the disease.

“The highly contagious nature of COVID-19 has proven to be an incredible challenge for health care facilities across the country,” Mason said in a statement. “We anticipate that we will see additional residents and employees test positive.”

A spokesman for the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County said it received the request and will work with the center and others to slow the spread.

Mason’s announcement came a day after three patients died and ambulances lined up outside the Seminole Pavilion Rehabilitation nursing home. State, local and company officials agreed to shut down the facility and evacuate the 39 remaining residents to local hospitals.

Of those transferred from the facility Friday, at least three patients have tested positive, the statement said. In the past few days, the company said it notified 237 employees who were associated with the nursing home and could have been exposed to the virus. Of the employees notified, 91 have been tested, Mason said, adding the company “will share full results once testing is complete.”

The nursing home’s outbreak reveals how quickly COVID-19 can spread in a facility filled with those most vulnerable to it.

On Friday, a nurse told the Tampa Bay Times the company had not been forthcoming in sharing information with employees, patients and their relatives.

Freedom Square, the nurse said, has lacked masks and gowns for weeks and many nurses and certified nursing assistants have resorted to buying their own equipment — if they can find it. As the outbreak has grown, the nurse said employees fear for their safety because protocols, such as disinfecting many common areas, are not in place to minimize the virus spread.

Mason’s statement confirmed the shortages in personal protective equipment, saying the supply of “more desirable” disposal gowns and N-95 face masks are limited.

“We have an abundant supply of cloth gowns and KN-95 face masks,” Mason wrote. “We are working to purchase more (personal protective equipment) and are working with our corporate partner and national association in these efforts.”

Mason thanked first responders, hospitals and local health officials for helping. He vowed to continue to disclose more information to the public.

The first confirmed case of a resident was a man hospitalized on April 5, according to the medical examiner. He tested positive on April 9 for COVID-19. He died the next day.

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter

We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every morning.

Loading...

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Then on Tuesday, Freedom Square officials said they transferred 38 nursing home patients to three local hospitals. Some were confirmed to have COVID-19, officials said, while others had symptoms or had come into contact with patients who displayed symptoms. Freedom Square said on Thursday that 21 residents and six staffers had tested positive.

Family members, attorneys and advocates have sounded alarms about the delays in residents and the public being informed about the outbreak.

• • •

Tampa Bay Times coronavirus coverage

HAVE YOU LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO COVID-19?: Help us remember them

UNEMPLOYMENT Q&A: We answer your questions about Florida unemployment benefits

CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCRAPBOOK: Help us tell the story of life under coronavirus

BRIGHT SPOTS IN DARK TIMES: The world is hard right now, but there’s still good news out there

LISTEN TO THE CORONAVIRUS PODCAST: New episodes every week, including interviews with experts and reporters

HAVE A TIP?: Send us confidential news tips

GET THE DAYSTARTER MORNING UPDATE: Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information, six days a week

WATCH VIDEO: How some in Tampa Bay are finding light amid isolation

We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription.