Butterfield Residential Care Center resident tests positive for COVID-19

A Butterfield Residential Care Center resident has tested positive for COVID-19. The resident is asymptomatic and all other tests were negative, which included 51 residents and 31 staff members.

Butterfield is a residential care center in Bolivar and is owned and operated by Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation, Bolivar.

The results are from mass testing performed Tuesday, Aug. 18, and confirmed with additional follow-up tests for two residents whose results were in question. The test result from one of the two residents was positive.

“Due to the fact that both residents did not have any symptoms and we have strict safety measures implemented at the facility, we wanted to verify the results with follow-up testing,” says Tim Francka, CMH Foundation administrative director of long-term care.

Butterfield administration has contacted residents, family members and employees of the results.

All residents and employees have been in quarantine and closely monitored for symptoms after a Butterfield employee became symptomatic Aug. 12, and was tested Aug. 13. The employee has not worked since Tuesday, Aug. 11.

The facility immediately canceled group activities and discontinued communal dining with residents being served meals in their rooms.

“While this is not the news we had hoped for, we began working closely with the Department of Health and Senior Services, Polk County Health Department and our infection prevention specialists to rapidly contain any exposures last week,” says Francka. “We are encouraged that our resident who tested positive has shown no symptoms, is feeling well and has not been in contact with other residents for a week. We will continue to be diligent in all our infection prevention efforts and want to thank everyone for their support.”

All Butterfield residents and employees will be retested Tuesday, Aug. 25.

CMH Foundation facilities follow Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Butterfield residents and employees are screened each shift for COVID-19 symptoms, have their temperature taken twice a day and must wear a mask. Additional preventative measures include extensive hand-washing, social distancing, disinfecting and restricting in-person visitations. All CMH long-term care staff wear eye protection and other personal protective equipment during their shifts.

CMH Foundation operates six long-term care facilities in Ash Grove, Bolivar, Buffalo, El Dorado Springs and Stockton, and one residential care center in Bolivar.

Butterfield encourages family members and friends to stay connected to residents during this time and use technology and alternative communication methods including Skype, FaceTime, phone calls and email.