News & Resources
Coronavirus Memo: The Tamalpais
Dear Sequoia Living Residents, Customers, and Staff,
I am writing to share a memo below from Wes Bard, Executive Director of The Tamalpais, that was sent to The Tamalpais residents and staff members on Monday, July 20, 2020.
While it is distressing to have any COVID-19 cases, we are all doing an incredible job of safeguarding each other and the residents. Please continue to wear your masks while at work and whenever you go outside your home.
Sara McVey
President & CEO
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July 20, 2020
Dear Tamalpais Residents, Customers, and Staff Members,
Today, July 20th, we were notified by Pine Park Health, our testing company we used last Friday, July 17th, that despite our continued extensive precautionary measures, another employee at The Tamalpais, has tested positive for COVID-19. This is our fifth staff member who has tested positive.
The employee last entered The Tam on July 18th. He/she is now self-isolating at home, under physician care. We have already collaborated with the Marin County Department of Public Health to trace the contacts of this staff person. We are not providing any additional information about the affected employee out of respect for their privacy.
Today we were also informed by Pine Park Health that a resident who was tested last Friday is COVID-19 positive. That resident does reside in Independent Living. The only known travel outside of their apartment was to a medical appointment. Contact tracing will be coordinated with Marin County Department of Public Health. The resident is quarantining in their apartment with some symptoms, which are manageable. Essential staff are providing necessary care for that resident, using proper personal protective equipment.
We are receiving additional guidance from The Tamalpais’ Medical Director, the Marin County Department of Public Health and the California Department of Public Health, and we are following the procedures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
We continue to screen all Tamalpais employees and monitoring residents daily. We also continue to test at least 25% of staff weekly.
In addition to our normal housekeeping and disinfecting processes, we are deep cleaning designated areas of the community. Staff in all areas will continue to wear masks and implement department-specific precautions as necessary.
As you know, we implemented a COVID-19 Action Plan of cautionary steps at the Tamalpais to keep residents, customers, and staff as safe as possible. We ask that everyone continue to put these practices in place. Social distancing, wearing masks, restricting off-site movement, and frequent hand washing remain among the primary best practices.
If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 such as cough, shortness of breath/ difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, we ask that you stay home, self-isolate, and contact your healthcare provider. Staff should also contact their supervisor via phone or email.
As we face the sudden and unforeseen impact of COVID-19, we also bear witness to our residents, customers, and staff uniting and supporting one another during these trying times. We are vigilant and well-prepared—and we are rising to the challenge.
Sincerely,
Wesley Bard
Executive Director, The Tamalpais
