GOODYEAR, AZ — A resident of a Valley senior living community has tested positive for COVID-19 after being hospitalized since the weekend.
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The Groves, which is located in Goodyear, notified families, residents, and staff of the positive test in an emailed message on Wednesday.
“We want to let you know that a resident at the community has tested positive for COVID-19,” according to the message. “This individual has been hospitalized for an unrelated illness since Sunday, March 22 and was tested yesterday for the virus. The positive test result came back today, and the resident remains in the hospital for treatment. We will be reaching out individually to anyone who might have been in contact with this individual.”
Specific information about the resident was not provided.
But spokesperson Loree Wagner told ABC15 that the person is doing well and is stable, so far.
Wagner said the Groves has been in what’s called “enhanced resident protection protocol” since March 17.
“That means no visitors, residents remain in their apartments, and all meals are delivered to them,” Wagner said.
Families notified ABC15 about the positive test Thursday, concerned for their loved ones still inside the Groves, especially considering the heightened risk for complications and death from COVID-19 among the elderly population.
“With the incubation period, that tells me there was transmission before the lockdown,” said one family member, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their parent’s identity. “This could have happened anywhere.”
The family member wanted to know more about what was being done to prevent and identify further transmission.
“Anyone who may have come into contact with this individual, we are reaching out to them individually, and we will be doing temperature checks on them twice a day,” Wagner said. “We want to monitor them and make sure that we are good there.”
The Groves is run by Seattle-based Merrill Gardens, which operates more than 30 senior living communities in eight states.
Contact ABC15 Investigator Dave Biscobing at dave@abc15.com.
