Abilene Nursing Home Confirms COVID-19 Outbreak

ABILENE, TX — Abilene/Taylor County Health Department officials have confirmed a COVID-19 outbreak at a local nursing home.

According to KTXS, over the weekend the staff at the Northern Oaks Living & Rehabilitation Center confirmed to health department authorities that a staff member had tested positive. As the nursing home began to test patients and staff members that had close contact with the positive case, they found five additional persons who were also positive.

A mass testing effort was then carried out at the nursing home and all residents who had not yet been tested received antigen testing Tuesday, August 18. 

Out of fifty-five tests administered, a total of eighteen were found to be positive. Northern Oaks staff then isolated the COVID-19 positive patients into a separate part of the facility. All Northern Oaks staff will be tested to further assess the situation.

The nursing home also confirmed the death of a man in his 80’s with pre-existing conditions. He is Taylor County’s 26th coronavirus related death.

According to Northern Oaks the majority of the positive patients are asymptomatic and currently feel well.