January 09, 2025

UPDATE: 53 people test positive for COVID-19 at Newton Health Care Center

Facility confirms more cases after testing and is in need of additional caregivers

By Christopher Braunschweig

Newton Health Care Center announced 53 people, 10 employees and 43 residents, had contracted COVID-19 after further testing results were released by the state. Less than one week earlier, the facility said 10 people had contacted the novel coronavirus. (Christopher Braunschweig)

More people have tested positive for COVID-19 one week after Newton Health Care Center announced only five employees and five residents had contracted the virus.

On Sunday, July 19, the facility confirmed 43 residents and 10 employees have COVID-19, based on results from state testing.

Newton News previously reported 10 cases had been discovered at the local nursing home, 200 S. Eight Ave. E., and that administrators were in the process of completing more testing. By July 12, those infected with COVID-19 were placed in a quarantined area of the building, facility administrator Sharon DeSpain said

Since then, Newton Health Care Center has expanded its COVID-19 unit to accommodate care for more residents who tested positive.

“We continue to follow strict isolation protocols and guidance provided by local and state departments,” DeSpain said. “... Our staff will continue to do all we can to provide exceptional care to our residents during such a difficult time.”

None of the reported cases have been fatal, which administrators are thankful for. At this point, the facility is still awaiting results from additional testing.

All employees remain in full personal protective equipment, Newton Health Care Center said in an updated press release. All residents, regardless of COVID-19 status, are in “droplet isolation precautions.” This means health care workers wear and discard PPE on a regular basis when monitoring patients in rooms.

Newton Health Care Center also is in need of “additional dedicated caregivers” to join its staff in this time of crisis. The facility is specifically seeking registered nurses, licenses practical nurses, certified nurse aides, temporary nursing assistants and dietary and laundry aides.

Other long-term care facilities in Newton have already been impacted by COVID-19 this year. Newton Health Care Center is the third facility of this kind to be impacted in town, Jasper County Public Health Department confirmed with Newton News last week.

In late April, two long-term care facilities in Jasper County — Accura HealthCare of Newton West and the WesleyLife-affiliated Park Centre — had reported COVID-19 outbreaks. At that time, 39 positive cases had been identified between the two facilities; 21 at Accura, 18 at Park Centre.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com