Childcare center has positive; COVID-19 update

By GREG SCELLIN
Signal Editor

While Fillmore County hasn’t technically had a confirmed COVID-19 case, a child, who attended the Tiny Images Child Care Center in Fairmont, tested positive for the novel coronavirus late last week. The child, who also has underlying health conditions, lives with his parents in Sutton. This case was the first for Clay County, which now has a second case when a woman in her 90s tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. She is currently hospitalized.
Fairview Manor administrator Tami Scheil (Tiny Images is part of the manor’s campus in Fairmont) issued a statement on the situation. She also noted that on March 3, a decision was made to no longer allow interactions between the childcare center and the nursing home and assisted living facility at Fairview Manor.
“Fairview Manor is doing everything we can to ensure we do not have any spread of COVID-19 within our facility,” the press release states. “We have no confirmed positive cases of the virus within Fairview Manor Nursing Home or Country Reflections Assisted Living. One positive COVID-19 case has occurred within Tiny Images Child Care Center. All necessary persons, including those attending the childcare center, have been notified. At this time, we have chosen to close down the child care center until further notice. We are in very close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking the appropriate steps at this time. All entities associated with Fairview Manor, including Tiny Images Child Care Center, have had preventative measures in place since early March…The needs and well-being of those we serve continue to be our top priority.”
Fillmore County Sheriff Bill Burgess issued a statement over the weekend. “As of 4-10-2020, 11:54 a.m., there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Fillmore County,”the statement reads. “Unless you have received your information directly from Public Health Solutions (PHS), CDC, or NDHHS please stop telling people you have ‘heard’ there is a case here or there. Rumors cause more stress in this already stressful time. Continue to follow all posted Directed Health Measures (DHM).”