Patients Of Coronavirus-Stricken Riverside Nursing Facility Evacuated After Staff Fails To Show For Second Day
RIVERSIDE (CBSLA) — Dozens of patients were evacuated Wednesday from a skilled nursing facility in Riverside after employees failed to showed up for work two days in a row.
A total of 83 patients of the Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center will be moved to other healthcare locations throughout Riverside County, officials announced Wednesday.
One of the patients in hospice at the center died Wednesday morning before she could be transported to another facility.
Just one certified nursing assistant of the 13 scheduled to work showed up Tuesday, prompting Riverside University Health System and Kaiser Permanente to send 33 nurses to help care for residents of the 90-bed facility. But those staffing demands a second day in a row required that patients be moved Wednesday.
"I spoke to a nurse this morning, early, she was reporting to work," one man said. "She was very upset about the fact that people would be leaving. She also mentioned that there had been a lot of discussion amongst the staff of fear."
The public health department said it had not heard any complaints from staff at the facility over a lack of personal protective equipment.
County health officials say there are 34 cases of COVID-19 among Magnolia's residents, and five among employees. The facility has no pending test results.
After the patients are moved, Magnolia will be closed to new patients, and staff will not be allowed to work at other facilities.
A nursing home across the street continued to operate, despite a weekend outbreak. Management of that nursing home declined to comment.
Riverside County was reporting 1,179 cases of coronavirus Tuesday, with 32 deaths and 74 recoveries.
Family members of Magnolia patients can call (951) 358-5134 to check the status of their loved ones.