Four Residents, Three Staff At Woods Services Test Positive For COVID-19

Four residents and three staff members at Woods Services have tested positive for COVID-19, the organization reported.

In letter to staff on Wednesday, Woods Serices’ CEO and President Tine Hansen-Turton said the residents who tested positive and “others who may be positive based upon their symptoms” have been moved to isolation residences on the campus that sits in Middletown and Langhorne Borough.

Woods Services serves people with brain injuries, developmental disabilities, behavior challenges, and medical problems. Many people who use the services live on the campus.

Woods Services began monitoring the health of residents for potential symptoms in early March. By mid-March, every staff member began having their temperature taken upon arrival for their shift and visitation was ended.

“The nature of this virus is such that someone can be carrying without having any indication of a symptom, enabling them to infect those around them. So, although we have taken significant precautionary measures and our staff is practicing all recommended protocols for handwashing, wearing masks, and social distancing wherever possible, we have also operated under the assumption that we would be facing this scenario eventually,” Hansen-Turton wrote.

Hansen-Turton has offered antibody testing to staff and residents that will indicate if their body is fighting COVID-19. If that test comes back positive, a COVID-19 test will be offered and the resident will be isolated or staff will self-quarantine until the test results return.

Staff on the campus are wearing surgical and N-95 masks while working with residents.

Hansen-Turton said the staffing levels at the organization remains strong.

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