Update: two staff members at Pine Acres test positive for COVID-19

DeKALB – After four residents of Pine Acres Rehab and Living Center were diagnosed with the coronavirus, two staff members have now contracted the virus, too, according to an announcement from the DeKalb County Health Department on Memorial Day.

The two staff members were included in Monday's daily COVID-19 update from the county health department, and the longterm care facility now has six total cases.

Three residents in their 70s and one in their 90s were confirmed to have contracted the novel coronavirus, said Lisa Gonzalez, DeKalb County Public Health administrator.

Gonzalez said the county health department plans to update its local longterm care facility numbers daily with their daily COVID-19 case count report as it changes.

In a news release sent by the county health department on behalf of Pine Acres, the longterm care facility said the residents tested positive on Saturday.

"We have identified all residents that may have been exposed," the release states. "Those residents and their family/guardian/representative/conservator were notified, as well as the resident's physician. These affected residents have been placed on transmission-based precautions."

As of Sunday, the Illinois Department of Public Health, which lists longterm care facility outbreaks in the state, has not yet included Pine Acres or any other DeKalb County facility on its list of outbreaks.

The release says the center is working closely with the county health department to prevent further exposure and transmission.

"Following guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, additional actions are being taken to monitor and protect the health and safety of residents and the facilities' healthcare staff. Our focus all along has been to prevent COVID-19 from entering our facility."

Pine Acres, 1212 S. Second Street in DeKalb, is the second longterm care facility in the county to be linked to COVID-19 cases.

DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center had a staff member test positive for the viral respiratory disease according to a May 15 announcement, though no resident of the facility has been reported to have it.

"The residents are being monitored closely," the Pine Acres release states. "Our hard working and dedicated staff are doing everything possible to ensure their health and safety. In turn, the administrative and management team are also doing everything possible to support the care of the residents but also to support our employees."

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include the ages of the residents and comment from Lisa Gonzalez, DeKalb County public health administrator.