New London – Beechwood Post Acute and Transitional Care center is prohibiting visitors and not accepting new patients in response to a patient having a confirmed case of the flu, according to Director of Nursing Leslie Merwin. 

Merwin said a female patient began showing minor symptoms of the virus on Wednesday that intensified Thursday. She said the patient is receiving treatment at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. 

Patients who show symptoms that could indicate they have the flu were put on antiviral medication Thursday, according to Merwin. She said the medication is to be administered for five days to each patient. 

“I tend to be on the aggressive side in terms of containment,” Merwin said Friday. 

“We take anything like this very seriously,” she added, continuing, “What’s a risk for one we assume is a risk for all, whether it’s an icy sidewalk or whatever it is.” 

Family members and others who normally would be permitted to visit patients may visit the front desk of the center to select food from the menu for their loved one, exchange laundry and do other tasks, according to Merwin. She also said she was available to talk to families. 

Visitation among patients on different floors also is prohibited for the time being, and group gathering areas such as the cafeteria are closed, according to Merwin. She said patients are receiving meals in their rooms. 

Staff members are required to stay on whatever floor where their work is centered and are required to wear face masks to prevent themselves from being exposed to the virus. 

“This is all basic infection control policy,” Merwin said. 

Ledge Light Health District epidemiologist Russell Nelmed said Ledge Light acts in an advisory role for long-term care facilities like Beechwood when they face outbreaks of illnesses. He said the situation at Beechwood is not unique in the larger scheme of things. 

“Whether it’s Beechwood or others, we’re in the midst of a pretty bad flu season,” he said. 

The measures Beechwood is taking, including restriction of visitation, are typical in a situation where respiratory illness has surfaced at a long-term care facility. 

“It happens every year. Every year there’s one or usually more than one situation in a long-term care facility in which they experience an uptick in respiratory illness,” he said. 

Beechwood has capacity for 60 patients, according to Merwin. Short-term patients are kept on the first floor and long-term patients on the second floor, she said. She said possible flu cases are isolated to the first floor. 

The situation is not a lockdown, said Merwin. She said discharges are allowed for patients who are healthy and not showing signs of the flu. 

Merwin said the facility had not yet determined when it would lift the restrictions. 

t.townsend@theday.com 

Twitter: @ConnecticuTess