Timely Mission reports COVID-19 outbreak

The spread of COVID-19 has reached some of the most at-risk people in the Buffalo Center community, as Timely Mission Nursing Home reports 35 cases of the illness have been identified there since Sept. 5.

Timely Mission Administrator Ashley Smith says that number includes both residents and staff, and 16 of the cases are now resolved. The nursing home is posting updates to its website at least once a week about new cases, and the largest tally was reported on Sept. 18 when 11 residents and one staff member tested positive.

The nursing home continues to screen and monitor all residents and staff, and Smith says they have the ability to conduct COVID-19 testing on site. People who test negative for the illness are retested every 3-5 days.

Smith says the nursing home has been closed to visitors since March, and they went into a complete quarantine during the first four weeks of the pandemic, however that wasn’t sustainable for the long-term. She declined to comment on whether there have been any deaths at the nursing home related to the illness.

“I think our residents have done very well. I think our staff has done a great job as well,” said Smith. “We’re in the process of resolving, and that’s the positive part.”

Winnebago County saw 28 additional cases of COVID-19 last week, with 317 cases reported as of Monday, Sept. 28.