ITHACA, NY – The Tompkins County Health Department reported on Wednesday that a resident who lived in a Racker Center home died of complications from COVID-19. This is the last of 14 deaths from the virus across the county.
According to the Racker Center, “a group of cases” was reported to TCHD on December 7, although it is not clear how many residents were infected.
A letter to the Racker community from Executive Director Dan Brown and Associate Executive Director Cris Donovan continues saying, “tThis is the first case of a resident in 26 Racker homes since the pandemic began in March “but that,” two additional residents are hospitalized and are seriously ill. ”
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The identity of the deceased person was not released for privacy reasons, although the letter from Brown and Donovan expresses that, “everyone in our Racker community is sad and heartbroken at the loss of this incredible woman. We send our deepest condolences to your family. , friends and all the people who have worked with her over the years. “
“Our condolences to the Racker community and the individual’s family,” said Frank Kruppa, director of public health for Tompkins County.
The Racker Center, which offers residential housing for more than 140 people with disabilities in three counties, says it is vigilant about preventing an outbreak due to the fatal impacts the disease may have on members of its community.
“We are aware of the increased risk of mortality for people with disabilities who often have underlying health problems and comorbidities, and we have learned a lot from colleagues across the state and country who have dealt with outbreaks in group homes this year. protocols and guidelines provided by health officials and medical personnel regarding screening, cleaning and disinfection, wearing a mask and hand washing, we implemented filtering systems in our homes, developed procedures to limit staff exposure in the community, and created cohorts to minimize the potential spread, “says Racker’s leadership letter.
The outbreak comes as the first wave of vaccines is becoming available in the state of New York. Racker employees and eligible families were strongly encouraged to get the vaccine as soon as possible.
“If you are eligible for the vaccine, make an appointment to receive it. It takes a community to break this trend and we count on our neighbors to do their part, ”says Brown and Donovan’s letter.
Photo via Racker Center on YouTube.