Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the residents who passed away. We want you to know that we are following all the protocol and recommendations for limiting the spread of this horrible virus.
Within a memo – also dated April 4th, I updated you regarding Covid-19 testing and about the results of the testing. At that time, I did not mention there were two deaths in the health center as we were waiting to obtain the testing results. Later in the afternoon, the NM Dept. of Health issued the following news release:
Department of Health, City of Albuquerque announce COVID-19 outbreak, deaths at long-term care facility
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and the City of Albuquerque report today an outbreak of COVID-19 at the La Vida Llena long-term care facility in Albuquerque where two residents have died, and 19 residents and three staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 with additional test results still pending.
The resident deaths consist of a man in his 90s and a man in his 80s, both had underlying health conditions. The man in his 90s died yesterday, April 2nd; the other in his 80s died early this morning.
“We are collaborating with the facility to complete testing of the residents and staff,” NMDOH Cabinet Secretary Kathy Kunkel. “We are also working together on identifying their recent contacts to determine the need for additional testing.”
“We continue our vigilance with respect to nursing homes,” said City of Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “Our Environmental Health Department is working with the New Mexico Department of Health to make sure people are following self-isolation guidance and that all state health regulations are being followed in these high-risk facilities.”
We are trying our best to keep you updated – but the news and information is constantly being updated, and some information is coming from different sources. We will post new updates and messages on the La Vida Llena website.
Thank you for continuing to follow social distancing protocol and keep WASHING YOUR HANDS!