Retirement Ranch employee tests positive for COVID-19

CLOVIS — Retirement Ranch had an employee test positive for COVID-19 on Friday, finding itself back on a state list of nursing homes with positive cases in the last 28 days.

Trisha Gross, the nursing home’s social services director, said the employee was asymptomatic and underwent routine testing Wednesday. The facility has been testing 20% of staff and 25% of residents weekly.

The employee must self-isolate for 14 days, and will remain on leave until he or she tests negative twice.

Due to the positive employee test, the facility is undergoing two rounds of 100% testing. The first began on Monday, with Gross noting Retirement Ranch was waiting on additional testing supplies from the state to complete the round. The second round of testing will take place in the upcoming days.

In late May, the facility had three positive tests — two staff, one resident. The female resident, Gross said, has tested negative since, including an antibody test, and never showed symptoms.

Prior to being placed back on the Department of Health’s list Saturday for nursing homes, Retirement Ranch had been absent from the list since June 24.