Three facilities caring for the elderly as part of the Notre Dame Health System are fighting to keep coronavirus from afflicting patients and residents.
This fight is being hampered by a lack of available Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
The Chateau de Notre Dame, Wynhoven Health Care Center and Our Lady of Wisdom Health Care Center have not been able to get enough PPE to adequately protect workers.
"The PPE equipment is not available at any price," President and CEO of the Notre Dame Health System Wayne Plaisance told WWL-TV.
On Saturday, Plaisance announced in a press release, all three facilities began limiting the number of people allowed in.
Compulsory screening of staff and residents for fevers related to COVID-19 symptoms were also instituted.
"We need to be clear in stating that our staff is doing their very best to prevent infection to residents in an environment with almost no (PPE) 'personal protective equipment,'" Plaisance said. "When you hear PPE on the broadcasts, know that we are among those working to provide staff with some level of protection."
As new cases are discovered, those patients are sent to hospitals.
However, patients are beginning to be returned due to overcrowd and lack of available bed space.
"As we send residents from nursing homes to hospitals, many are returned to the facility with instructions to quarantine for 14 days," Plaisance said. "This is a difficult task for those in semi-private rooms. We have also had to face hospitals not communicating with the facility."