Just as they did in Washington, Chosen Healthcare has chosen to abandon a resident transfer plan between nursing homes.
Knox County officials, including Health Officer Dr. Alan Stewart, met today with the Regional Director of Operations of Chosen Healthcare over that resident transfer plan. Dr. Stewart learned yesterday that Chosen, the parent company of Willow Manor in Vincennes was wanting move 13 residents to Vincennes from a facility which has COVID-positive patients and staff in New Albany, Indiana.
Dr. Stewart says today’s meeting went well and that Chosen’s administration has agreed to cancel the move. Stewart said again he strongly believes it was not in the best interest of Knox County and the current residents and staff of Willow Manor. Dr. Stewart said he was pleased that Chosen has made the right decision. He added that even if the residents originally tested negative for COVID, they would be coming from an infected facility and would bring with them a possible threat to some of Knox County’s most vulnerable population.
A few weeks ago, Chosen attempted to move in those diagnosed with COVID from out of Daviess County into Washington Nursing Center. The non-COVID residents there were going to be moved to Vincennes and Seymour. After actions and outrage from local officials and the public, Chosen dropped that matter as well.
Also today, the Knox County Health Department has been notified of a new diagnosis of a resident with the COVID-19 virus. Dr. Stewart says the patient is quarantined at home and is doing well. Contacts of this person have been notified and are being isolated at home.
This latest diagnosis brings the total of COVID-19 cases in Knox County to 20. 15 patients have recovered, while five cases are still active in quarantine. Four are quarantined at home, and one patient is quarantined in the hospital. Local residents need to stay at home whenever possible and practice safe social distancing measures when out in the community for essential work or essential shopping.