Coronavirus Illinois: 163 patients, 31 staff test positive for COVID-19 at City View Multicare Center in Cicero
CICERO, Ill. (WLS) -- A cluster of COVID-19 cases has been reported at a nursing home in west suburban Cicero.
After mandated COVID-19 testing was done last week, it was discovered, 163 residents have tested positive at City View Multicare Center and 31 staff members have also tested positive.
Coronavirus in Illinois: Latest news on COVID-19 cases, Chicago area impact
At least eight residents and one staff member have died from COVID-19 at City Care.
"This is a situation where there wasn't enough tests happening," said Shaba Andrich, vice president SEIU IL IN MK KS representing nursing home workers.
The residents that have tested positive are quarantined to three floors of the facility.
The facility has also been cited for 10 safety violations related to COVID-19 issues, and they have been reported to the department of public health, both at the county and state levels.
"Many of the citations had to do with employees not wearing full PPE equipment, not just the face mask, but head gear, clothing, the gloves," Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania. "When you deal with someone with the coronavirus in a situation like a care center, you have to be fully covered and protected and in some cases that wasn't the case."
Coronavirus testing: Where to get tested for COVID-19 in Illinois, Chicago area
A facility worker told ABC7 she tested positive for COVID-19 and said she does not plan to return to work until her health and the situation inside improves.
Town officials are now monitoring this facility daily.
"We want to confirm that it's safe and we want to make sure that the spread has been contained and we want to make sure that all of the employees are wearing proper PPE equipment and if they are, the procedures are followed, we'll offer whatever support we can to ensure this doesn't go any further than it has," Hanania said.
ZIP CODE TRACKER: Where is coronavirus in Illinois?
"This is something we've got to be prepared for, that we are going to run into more and more, and we are going to see this more and more across the state as tests are coming in," Andrich said.
The Illinois Department of Public health is also mandating the entire staff to be tested. Visitation at the facility has been suspended.
ABC7 Eyewitness News reached out to the facility but our calls went unanswered.
