WRC Weekly COVID-19 Update

2/10/2021

We’re sharing our weekly update to keep WRC employees, residents, and families informed of changing regulations and policies at the national and state level, as well as within the WRC continuum. Thank you to all WRC essential workers!

Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants are circulating globally. Several new variants emerged in the fall of 2020, most notably:

• In the United Kingdom (UK), a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as 20I/501Y.V1, VOC 202012/01, or B.1.1.7) emerged with a large number of mutations. This variant has since been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the United States (US). In January 2021, scientists from UK reported evidence^[1] that suggests the B.1.1.7 variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared with other variants. More studies are needed to confirm this finding. This variant was reported in the US at the end of December 2020.
• In South Africa, another variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as 20H/501Y.V2 or B.1.351) emerged independently of B.1.1.7. This variant shares some mutations with B.1.1.7. Cases attributed to this variant have been detected in multiple countries outside of South Africa. This variant was reported in the US at the end of January 2021.
• In Brazil, a variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as P.1) emerged that was first was identified in four travelers from Brazil, who were tested during routine screening at Haneda airport outside Tokyo, Japan. This variant has 17 unique mutations, including three in the receptor binding domain of the spike protein. This variant was detected in the US at the end of January 2021.

Scientists are working to learn more about these variants to better understand how easily they might be transmitted and the effectiveness of currently authorized vaccines against them. New information about the virologic, epidemiologic, and clinical characteristics of these variants is rapidly emerging.

Updates within WRC Continuum

• COVID status at each community (as of 2-10-2021, 12:00 PM)
  • Highland Oaks in Clarion, PA
    • 0 current resident cases, 0 current staff cases, 2 cumulative cases
  • Edgewood Heights in New Bethlehem, PA
    • 0 new resident cases, 0 new staff cases, 41 cumulative cases
  • Ridgmont in Ridgway, PA
    • 0 new resident cases, 0 new staff cases, 8 cumulative cases
  • Laurelbrooke Personal Care in Brookville, PA
    • 0 new resident cases, 0 new staff cases, 5 cumulative cases
  • McKinley Health Center in Brookville, PA
    • 0 new resident cases, 2 new staff cases, 100 cumulative cases
  • Please contact the community directly for more information about current and past COVID-19 cases
  • First and second vaccinations were administered throughout the WRC continuum from partners Walgreens and PharMerica, who are offering the vaccine to long-term care facilities at no cost.