Patients at Silver Cross Health and Rehabilitation Center in Brookhaven have been temporarily relocated to other healthcare facilities.

Even though the staff at the residential center was prepared and trained, the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic hit them hard.

“It went through our facility in a week’s time, and these residents were extremely ill, they decline very rapidly and became critical,” said Member Manager Ronny Hubbard.

The facility had a COVID-19 room, similar to an intensive care unit, and they started moving patients in there, until they realized they didn’t have the room or the resources. Many of the residents and employees were infected, and in many cases they were showing signs but testing negative.

“When (the facility’s physician) felt that the residents had reached a critical state and we had done all we can do, he immediately placed orders for them to be transferred to an acute care hospital, which we did,” said Hubbard.

It took several ambulance services to move the residents to 10 different facilities around the state. Cleaners were then brought in to sterilize everything, including the air flow duct work. In Hubbard’s opinion, that move saved the lives of many of those at Silver Cross.

“Our number one responsibility is our residents. We place them at the forefront of every decision we make,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard said residents should be able to be readmitted by early next week.