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"ManorCare Health Services in Palmer Township has a  case of COVID-19, the nursing home facility announced Tuesday evening.The state Department of Health confirmed the case, according to a spokeswoman.“Although the individual is not currently in the center, the health and well-being of our patients and employees remain our top priority,” spokeswoman Julie Beckert said.Due to privacy laws,  Beckert declined to say whether the affected person is one of the center’s 212 patients or an employee; how many people they may have interacted with; when they left ManorCare; or where they are now.When asked how the center became aware of this case, Beckert said the person “showed signs or symptoms through our screening.”To minimize risk to patients and employees, ManorCare contacted patients’ families, isolated potentially high-risk patients and stopped group activities, Beckert said.The center is also monitoring patients, staff and authorized visitors, limiting staff/patient interactions, restricting visitations, delaying all new patient admissions, increasing sanitation and cleaning, and reviewing its inventory of masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment, she said.“Any nonessential partners will not be allowed in the center,” Beckert said.News of ManorCare’s  case is just the latest example of what’s been happening across the country since the first known case of COVID-19 in the U.S. became documented Jan. 20 in Washington.On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and state regulators announced the preliminary results of a March 16 inspection at the Life Care Center of Kirkland nursing home, where at least 37 deaths have been linked to the coronavirus, in Seattle.Life Care did not notify the Washington Department of Health about the rising rate of respiratory infections among residents or have a backup plan in the absence of the facility’s primary clinician, who fell ill, the inspection’s preliminary results show.Such news is of concern to many in the Lehigh Valley, where Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation facilities in Allentown announced Friday that a food service employee tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee, who works for food service contractor Sodexo, had no direct contact with any residents at the Lehigh County nursing home, the state Department of Health said.ManorCare’s case is the first known at a Northampton County nursing home.“We’re being extremely aggressive and vigilant in helping prevent any further spread of the coronavirus in our area,” Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said. “We strongly advocate that both public and private health care facilities, like ManorCare, be provided with the masks, gloves and other equipment they need to protect themselves and their patients.”Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com."
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