Catholic Charities plans for potential COVID-19 outbreak at nursing homes – WMUR Manchester

With elderly people considered to be at a higher risk for the new coronavirus, COVID-19, New Hampshire’s Catholic Charities is finalizing plans to contain any potential outbreak in its care facilities.>> Download the FREE WMUR appOfficials at Catholic Charities said the spread of COVID-19 is a concern but not a panic situation. But they put together a pandemic plan they said they hope never needs to be used.There have been no confirmed cases of the virus in New Hampshire, but Granite State health officials said it’s not a matter of if, but when.”We’ve been monitoring (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and World Health Organization several times a day,” said Darlene Underhill, of Catholic Charities.Mt. Carmel Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Manchester serves more than 700 senior citizens who would be at high risk of infection should the coronavirus not be contained properly at any of Catholic Charities’ seven facilities across New Hampshire.”It could be overnight,” Underhill said. “You could have one case and then, all of a sudden, the next morning, you could have multiple cases.”Underhill said the facilities have successfully combated outbreaks of flu among residents, but COVID-19 could be a lot different. With no vaccine, Catholic Charities has drawn up a pandemic plan to address potential issues should an outbreak occur.”The biggest concern in a pandemic situation is that some of our staff would likely be ill and their families,” Underhill said.To that end, Catholic Charities has created a list of third-party nurses and volunteers who could step in if needed. A shortage of supplies is also a concern.”The biggest thing would be, of course, personal protective equipment, or what we call PPE,” Underhill said. “That would be things like gowns, masks, goggles.”Underhill said officials are hoping for the best and planning for the worst.”We’re planning for worst-case scenario, if we had to be self-sufficient and isolated for up to a two-week period,” she said.Underhill said the anticipation is a little unnerving for residents, but having a plan in place is what matters most.”We’re trying to anticipate the worst-case scenario and hopefully, it’s the best-case scenario and none of this will be needed,” she said.Catholic Charities officials said they are beginning to ask staff members, clients and the families of clients to be transparent about their travels, particularly if someone takes a trip to an area with a high number of infections.