An employee at Cove’s Edge, a long-term care facility on LincolnHealth’s Miles Campus in Damariscotta, has tested positive for COVID-19, but universal testing has found no other cases among workers or residents.
LincolnHealth spokesperson John Martins confirmed the employee’s positive test Friday, Nov. 6.
The employee, who did not have any symptoms, learned of the positive test Friday, Oct. 30 and is quarantining at home, Martins said by email. He said state-mandated surveillance testing on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 28 and 29, turned up the case.
Martins said by email Monday, Nov. 9 that no other LincolnHealth employees had tested positive for COVID-19.
Based on the positive test, a first round of universal testing of residents and staff has been completed. Martins said results from all but one of the tests have been reported and all are negative so far.
He said the second round of universal testing will take place Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12 and 13.
Martins said by email Monday that the state mandates surveillance testing for all employees at least once a month. The community positivity rate per 10,000 residents determines the frequency of the tests.
“When a facility has a positive case associated with it, universal testing applies. All employees and residents need to be tested for two weeks to assure that no one has developed COVID-19 from possible exposure. If all of this week’s testing is negative, Cove’s Edge will return to surveillance testing once a month,” Martins wrote.
Martins said LincolnHealth has remained in communication with residents, their families, and employees since learning of the positive case.
Cove’s Edge is closed for new admissions until the universal testing is completed.
Martins said the facility has been closed to visitors since before the positive case was identified.
“Resident and team member safety is our top priority, and all other established safety measures — including universal masking, daily screening of employees, and increased hand hygiene — remain in place,” Martins wrote.
Martins said there are 46 people living at Cove’s Edge — 42 long-term residents and four skilled rehabilitation patients.
There have been outbreaks at long-term care facilities across the state, where residents live in close proximity to one another and are particularly vulnerable to the most dangerous effects of COVID-19 because of age and preexisting health conditions.
