Berkeley nursing homes begin to welcome visitors, volunteers
David McAllister/Staff
Chaparral House is one of many nursing homes in Berkeley navigating the challenges of caring for a vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has begun to allow visitors to come meet their friends and family under certain restrictions.
After more than a yearlong struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, some nursing homes in the city of Berkeley are slowly transitioning back to normalcy, opening their doors to volunteers and visitors in a controlled fashion.
Chaparral House is one of many nursing homes in the city navigating the challenges of caring for a vulnerable population during the pandemic. According to licensed home administrator Kj Page, the spread of COVID-19 has completely transformed operations.
Update, Dec. 23: The number of active cases among residents has increased from 29 to 34, and staff cases remain at 12, according to updated state figures. (Note: this link has been replaced with the most up-to-date numbers as of Jan. 8)
Update, Dec. 23: An 86-year-old woman who tested positive for COVID-19 died at the care home early Tuesday morning, the Alameda County Coroner’s Office confirmed. The cause of her death is still under investigation.
Original story: The Silverado memory care home on Sacramento Street (at Bancroft) in Berkeley has been hit with an outbreak of COVID-19 cases among staff and residents since Thanksgiving, despite successfully avoiding infections from the beginning of the pandemic in March, the long-term care home confirmed.