MARSHALL — Nine residents of the Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall have tested positive for COVID-19, Avera Marshall confirmed Friday.

Morningside Heights has opened a separate unit to care for the COVID-positive residents, and minimize exposure to other residents.

“The health and safety of our residents is our priority,” said Dodie Derynck, vice president of clinical operations at Avera Marshall. “Our team has worked tirelessly to protect the health of our residents over the course of the pandemic to date. We have followed all recommended guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Minnesota Department of Health. We will continue to take all precautions possible to stop the spread of this virus in our facility.”

Avera Marshall said employees, Morningside Heights residents and families of residents have been informed of the positive cases. Employees and residents will continue to be screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms.

Morningside Heights and the Avera long-term care community have been taking proactive steps to protect residents since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Avera Marshall spokespeople said. Precautions have included screening residents and staff, using personal protective equipment, ending group dining and activities, and closing the care center to visitors. Now, with active cases at Morningside Heights, residents are currently quarantined in their rooms.

Derynck said staff and residents have been getting tested for COVID-19 routinely over the past several weeks, under guidance from the MDH and the CMS.

“Since it is possible for someone to spread COVID-19 without experiencing symptoms, testing can help to identify people who may be unknowingly carrying the virus,” she said.

“COVID-19 is so widespread in our communities now. I applaud our staff for their diligence in taking every precaution to protect our residents,” Derynck said. “And I’m grateful to residents and families for their patience and cooperation. Those efforts meant we were able to prevent any positive cases in residents through the first 227 days of the pandemic.”

Avera Marshall spokespeople said Morningside Heights is in close communication with the MDH and Avera infectious disease specialists to make sure they are taking appropriate steps in response to COVID-19. Local staff also have support from Avera eCARE Senior Care, which provides telehealth access to urgent care, and consultation about residents’ health needs.

“With the help of Avera eCARE Senior Care, our centers are ready to care for many of these residents in place,” Derynck said. “Certainly if their symptoms are serious enough they would be transferred to the hospital.”