A coronavirus outbreak at a Worland nursing home has resulted in at least seven new confirmed coronavirus cases, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.
The department, in a news release issued Sunday, said five staff members and four residents of the Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center have been identified as having been infected with coronavirus, although some test results to confirm the infections are pending.
The Health Department’s attention was drawn to the facility by the fact that some staff members who were ill sought medical care, the news release said.
It added officials are unsure how the virus was introduced in the facility.
Samples are being collected from all of the center’s staff and residents to determine how widespread the illness may be, the department said.
The Health Department has been prioritizing nursing homes and assisted living centers in its efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus, said Dr. Alexia Harrist, the state’s health officer.
“We know the residents of these places are among the most vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 and we have seen terrible situations occur in other nursing homes across the country,” she said. “We also recognize that the nature of long-term care facilities can make it very challenging to control the spread of the virus once it’s been introduced into a specific location.”
