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It Has Happened: A Eugene Memory Care Facility Experiences COVID-19 Outbreak

Evergreen Memory Care, CDC

UPDATE: Lane County Public Health announced Friday (09/04/2020) there have been 9 additional cases attributed to the Evergreen Memory Care outbreak. The outbreak now stands at 27 cases. The facility reports two residents have died of COVID-19 related causes. Both elders reportedly had underlying conditions.  

In a statement, Evergreen staff offered condolences to the deceased residents’ families and friends and said "it was a privilege to care for them."

Lane County has seen its first COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility. Eighteen people in one site in northwest Eugene have now tested positive for the virus.

Evergreen Memory Care supports people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Over the weekend it was announced, testing revealed 12 residents and six staff have COVID-19.

Lane County Public Health is assisting with infection control measures to quell the spread in the 54-bed facility. Spokesperson Jason Davis said they do not know the original or “sentinel” case yet.

“This really could happen to any facility. Given the nature of COVID—that we have a percentage of individuals who don’t display symptoms at all, in fact they feel just fine,” Davis said. “It can be very challenging especially when you introduce an asymptomatic individual into a congregate living setting.”

Davis said this outbreak is particularly worrying because it involves so many in a high-risk age group. He adds Evergreen Memory Care has followed public health guidelines to protect all the residents. None of the infected elders have been hospitalized as of Tuesday. To date, there have been a total of 717 COVID-19 cases in Lane County.

Credit Lane County Public Health video
Jason Davis provided updates on the Evergreen Memory Care outbreak in Eugene. He says the facility is working in partnership with Lane County Public Health and the Oregon Health Authority to protect their vulnerable residents.

Tiffany joined the KLCC News team in 2007. She studied journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia and worked in a variety of media including television, technical writing, photography and daily print news before moving to the Pacific Northwest.
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