Update: Six residents of Elk Grove senior facility have now tested positive for coronavirus
Six residents of an Elk Grove senior living facility have apparently tested positive for the coronavirus, according to an email sent to family members Wednesday obtained by The Sacramento Bee.
The facility, Carlton Senior Living in Elk Grove, was home to a woman in her 90s who contracted the disease earlier this month and died at the hospital. That was the first Sacramento County death tied to the new coronavirus and apparently the first confirmed case in a California senior facility.
On March 19, the facility told family members five residents had tested positive. At that time, three of them were staying at the facility, the email said, and the facility started testing all residents. Prior to that, Carlton had said it was only testing residents displaying symptoms.
On Wednesday, Carlton sent an email saying it had received the majority of the 100 test results from the Department of Public Health, with one positive result. The email did not say if that resident was staying in his or her apartment in the facility, at the hospital or elsewhere.
A Carlton Senior Living spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.
“We greatly appreciate your patience during these times,” the email reads. “We are continuing our present protocols, screening all essential personnel, and room service. We continue to explore stimulating activities and other ways to engage our residents while they are staying in their apartments.”
Sacramento County has at least 113 confirmed cases of the virus and five deaths. It’s unclear whether other Carlton residents who have tested positive for the virus have died, aside from the woman in her 90s.
Carlton is isolating its residents in their units, has blocked visitation, canceled all group activities and ended dining room meals, officials have said previously.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 11:08 AM.
