Henderson reports 2 new COVID-19 cases, both Grayson Nursing & Rehab staff. Judge says pump the brakes on criticism of nursing home.

kevin-henderson-04-23
kevin-henderson-04-23

Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson held a coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing Thursday afternoon at the Grayson County Government Building Annex.

Henderson said two more cases of the virus have been diagnosed in Grayson County, increasing the county’s total to 26 cases. The victims, both 19-year-old females, are employee of Grayson Nursing & Rehabilitation. The long-term care facility now has 20 COVID-19 cases; 11 staff members and nine residents.

Two Grayson Nursing & Rehabilitation residents are hospitalized in stable condition, Henderson said. All other coronavirus positive residents are quarantined at the facility.

The 66-year-old man diagnosed with the virus who was reported in critical but stable condition on Wednesday, is now in stable condition, according to Henderson.

As of Thursday afternoon, 297 COVID-19 tests have been administered in Grayson County, with 229 of those tests returned negative. Forty-two tests are pending, and five people have recovered from the virus. Henderson noted that a plan is in place to test all residents and employees at Grayson Nursing & Rehabilitation.

Henderson has on more than one occasion praised Grayson Nursing & Rehabilitation’s leadership during the COVID-19 outbreak for steps the facility has taken to limit the spread of the virus. The judge, responding to social media criticism aimed at the facility, became clearly agitated as he countered the condemnation of the facility he has read online.

“Folks, I’m going to tell you something, this could land on anybody’s doorstep, at any day, at any given time,” he said “All the other facilities are doing a good job, but they are not exempt from this (the virus). It just so happened to end up here (at Grayson Nursing & Rehabilitation). It could happen to the hospital; it could happen to Spring View; it could happen to Bee Hive, we pray that it does not; it could happen at the jail, we pray it does not.

“But be aware, they are doing everything they can possibly do. You can’t fight something that you can’t see, you can only take precautions. And they’ve taken every precaution they possibly can, and they’re doing everything they possibly can. So please continue to remember those folks. I can’t stress enough how difficult it would be to know you are going into something like that every day … all we can do is pray for them.

“Things that you say, sometimes you can’t take back,” Henderson added, “So before you rip something out on Facebook be aware who all it affects.”

Grayson Nursing & Rehabilitation released the following statement on Wednesday afternoon:

We would like to once again thank everyone for their prayers and support you have and continue showing us. Our commitment is still very strong to continue to give the best possible care to our residents.

We would like to inform everyone that we are calling family members or the appropriate parties to give positive test results as they come in. We are still urging people to continue calling the facility with any questions or concerns. Again, please call Melinda Fulkerson, Katy Newton or Julie Lee at 270-259-3676. 

Henderson noted that the nursing home is desperate for nursing assistants (CNAs). Anyone interested in helping Grayson Nursing & Rehabilitation through this difficult time is asked to contact Melinda Fulkerson, Katy Newton or Julie Lee at 270-259-3676.

The judge added that he and other officials will hold COVID-19 briefings on Saturday and Sunday at 3:30. Those briefings, like all others, can be seen live on K105’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@105.com