1 dead from covid-19 at Concordia’s Butler senior community; 2 employees infected in Monroeville, Baden

Concordia Lutheran Ministries confirmed Friday that a Butler assisted living community resident has died of covid-19, marking the first death linked to the coronavirus outbreak at the network’s senior care facilities in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida.

The person who died Thursday night at Concordia at the Orchard in Butler was in their late 90s, spokesman Frank Skrip said. No further information about the person was released.

Three residents at the Butler location now have tested positive for covid-19, officials said.

“Family has been notified and remain in our prayers,” Concordia officials said in a statement posted online. “We are putting our full corporate resources behind the residents and staff at Concordia at the Orchard to help minimize the risk of the virus spreading.”

Two staff members have been infected with covid-19 and are quarantining at home — one each at Concordia at Monroeville and Villa St. Joseph in Baden.

The Monroeville employee last worked on Sunday, and the Baden employee last worked on March 24.

Neither showed symptoms during their last work shifts, Concordia officials said.

Each “employee’s footprint” at their respective facilities and who they came into contact with is being investigated. They will be scheduled to return to work based on guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

None of Concordia’s other residents at 12 senior living facilities in the region have tested positive for the highly contagious disease as of Friday night, Skrip said.

“We are taking our residents’ vital signs multiple times per day and actively monitoring for signs and symptoms of covid-19,” Concordia officials said.

All direct caregivers are equipped with N95 respirators, and support staff wear surgical masks.

After implementing a no-visitor police in mid-March, the network began isolating residents on March 29, with plans to do so until at least April 12.

“We understand that connecting with family members is important. We will continue to provide connection with your loved one via telephone, email, text or video chat,” Concordia officials said. “At this time, we ask for your continued prayers for our patients, residents and staff.”