UPDATE: WVH in King corrects covid numbers

By Robert Cloud

UPDATE: In a follow up memo, Wisconsin Veterans Home Commandant Tammy Servatius reported that the original numbers were incorrect.

Originally, Servatius reported that 60 residents and 17 staff in King tested positive for COVID-19 from Oct. 9-14.

“I’d like to inform you that we made a mistake in Wednesday’s COVID-19 update and unfortunately reported many more, new positive tests than we actually had. We are sorry for this miscommunication,” according to her Oct. 16 letter.

She said 27 members and 10 staff tested positive.

Both the Oct. 14 and Oct. 16 letter to King members, families and friends said 51 members are quarantined in Stordock Hall.

“We have had four deaths over the past three weeks that may be attributed to COVID-19,” the letter said.

Servatius noted that 307 of the nearly 700 staff who work at King live in Waupaca.

“Waupaca County has very high activity levels for COVID-19,” Servatius said. “In addition, hundreds live in the surrounding counties – Winnebago, Outagamie, Waushara and Portage – all with very high activity levels for COVID-19.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Waupaca County Public Health Services reported 28 covid-related deaths and a total of 1,837 positive cases.

The county confirmed 67 new cases in a single day on Oct. 14.

Since the first local cases were reported in March, 106 Waupaca County residents have been hospitalized.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Health Services reported on Thursday, Oct. 15, that there are nine active covid investigations of nursing homes in Waupaca County.

In addition to WVH in King and Ainsworth, MacArthur and Olson halls, covid investigations are ongoing at Bethany Home, Crossroads Care Center, Greentree Health Center, The Pines Post Acute and Memory Care, and St. Joseph Residence.