5/14/20 Update: House-wide testing conducted for Lyngblomsten Care Center residents

May 14, 2020

Today on May 14, Lyngblomsten collected samples for COVID-19 testing for nearly all of its care center residents as part of its strategy to identify and contain the virus on our campus. 

Samples were collected from residents who had not previously tested positive for COVID-19.  In total, tests were collected from 147 residents.  Based on what’s happened at other skilled nursing facilities that have tested all their residents (both in Minnesota and elsewhere in the U.S.), it’s likely that a significant number of today’s tests will come back positive, including for those residents who are asymptomatic (i.e., individuals who have the virus but have no symptoms).  The more that testing is conducted, the more the virus can be found.  Currently there are 27 residents and 4 employees with active confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Lyngblomsten leadership has been working tirelessly with MDH officials, private laboratories, and several healthcare system partners to bring universal testing to our campus.  This type of testing will allow us to identify who has the virus at a particular time, including—and of great importance—those who are asymptomatic. This information will inform our strategy for containing the virus on our campus.

With such a large batch of tests submitted today, it is unknown how long these tests will take to process.  As we have been doing with all testing results, Lyngblomsten will inform individual residents and their designated family member/representatives whether their loved one tested positive or negative.

Testing of employees is anticipated to begin next week.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our effort and helped advocate for universal testing for those living and working in long-term care facilities!

Our spirits are lifted by the amazing attitudes of our residents who bravely participated in today’s testing.  So many of them shared that they are praying for everyone on our campus.  This truly is the greatest generation!  We are inspired by what we can learn from them.