Press release from the Irene Wortham Center:
We hope this finds you in good health and taking all recommended precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Our top priority at Irene Wortham Center is ensuring our Residential and Adult Day Activity Center consumers and Early Learning Center children stay healthy. In an effort to stay ahead of the spreading virus and out of an abundance of caution, we have taken the following measures to prevent COVID-19 from affecting the consumers and staff in our programs:
Our Early Learning Center and Adult Day Activity Center are closed effective today, March 16, through Sunday, March 29. We will assess the necessity of extending this closure during the coming weeks based on new information and Buncombe County Health Department guidance.
Our three Residential Homes remain open only to the residential consumers and dedicated staff. No outside visitors are allowed in the homes. Residents will remain in their homes, and all trips into the community are canceled until further notice. Any sign of symptoms will be taken very seriously and we will not hesitate to test consumers for Covid-19 should our nurse suspect the need to do so.
Here are additional campus-wide precautions we have instituted at Irene Wortham Center:
- Temporary ban on any outside visitors to our campus, including volunteers and family members
- All staff are required to have their temperature taken and logged before entering any campus facility
- All staff are required to stay in their respective building to limit exposure to consumers in various programs
We realize the impact closing programs has on our staff and we are doing everything in our power to provide staff with resources during this challenging time. All decisions until now and any further action taken is in the best interest of Irene Wortham Center consumers and staff.
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