On Tuesday evening, March 24, during a physical examination mandated by ADIโs extreme sterilization protocols, it was determined that a nurse at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran, our residential and rehabilitative village in the Negev, had contracted Coronavirus (COVID-19) from an unknown source outside the facility. The staff member was immediately quarantined, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare was called to determine the best course of action for dealing with the people who had come into direct contact with her during the previous days, including 42 residents with severe complex disabilities from the residence where she works, and more than 20 staff members who interact with her on a daily basis.
On Wednesday morning, March 25, after a detailed briefing from ADI Negev Chairman Major General (res.) Doron Almog, ADI Negev Director General Avi Wortzman, and ADI administrator Moshe Seville, a unit from the IDFโs Home Front Command worked in concert with Magen David Adom paramedics to simultaneously move all of the residents and staff members in question to quarantine in the adjacent special education school (now vacant due to national COVID-19 restrictions) and fully disinfect the residence. After feeding the residents, the ADI staff prepared the residents and themselves for extensive testing to rule out infection.
Following the testing, the residents and staff members will be quarantined in the newly sterilized residence until the results are analyzed and any additional infected individuals are identified. Looking ahead, the ADI Negev administrators have begun devising a plan to create a hospital ward capable of caring for any residents or staff members infected with Coronavirus. With the assistance of the Home Front Command and Magen David Adom, the ward should be operational within a week.
Thanks to ADIโs extreme sterilization protocols, which follow the strict guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry confirmed that the other people at ADI Negev, including 100 residents and dozens of staff members, had not been infected and did not require quarantine because they had been working in separate residences and had not come into contact with anyone from the residence in question for more than two weeks.
It’s also important to stress that ADIโs nursing staff works only with the ADI residents and not at any hospitals, clinics or outpatient centers.
In addition to keeping the parents of all residents informed via hourly updates, ADI is working diligently to secure additional resources from the government in order to halt the further spread of virus. As previously stated, an enhanced level of partnership from the government is crucial if we are to succeed in this extremely urgent life-saving mission โ we simply cannot do this alone.
Additional updates will follow. Your thoughts, prayers and continued support is greatly appreciated.
Emergency Campaign
The needs of our ADI children cannot be put on hold.
Public support is more important than ever to guarantee that our residents receive their daily respiratory treatments, their many specialized therapies that are critical to their care and development, and the medications and formulas that are not included in Israel’s health basket. With events, visitors, and fundraising meetings on hold, these vital services are in danger.
Though our ADI residents are being distanced from the public to safeguard their health, it is essential that they never feel alone.
