Statement from Medical Director of Infection Prevention & Control Regarding St. Catherine Labouré Health Care Center
St. Catherine Labouré Health Care Center, a five-star long term care facility in Buffalo, New York, has 10 residents who tested positive for COVID-19. Seven of the 10 cases were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis. The remaining cases were detected as part of rapid testing that took place on the 40-bed unit to ensure all potentially pre-symptomatic cases were identified quickly before any additional transmission could occur. Because of the low rate of positive cases within the unit, only residents have been tested at this time.
Affected residents were placed in an isolation zone within the facility to help prevent additional transmission. Two of the 10 positive residents were transferred to area hospitals, with one returning to St. Catherine’s today and the other expected to return tomorrow. All families of the residents in the facility have been contacted.
Taking Action Based on Testing Results
St. Catherine’s administration and our Infection Control team have taken swift action to stop the spread of the virus beyond the affected unit. We have been in close contact with state health department officials who agree with the testing and isolation approach we are taking. The facility is following all recommended CDC and Department of Health guidelines for COVID-19 infection prevention, including restricting visitors, performing daily health screenings and providing personal protective equipment to all staff, eliminating group activities, and continuously monitoring residents for signs and symptoms.
Many area nursing homes, including Catholic Health’s Father Baker Manor, have reported positive COVID-19 cases at this time. Catholic Heath’s two other nursing homes – McAuley Residence in Tonawanda and Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV in Lackawanna – do not have any positive cases.
