complaint·March 21, 2022

In regard to the allegation facility failed to meet reporting requirements, confidential interviews revealed that facility staff notified all parents of the two (2) positive COVID-19 cases/exposures that occurred at the facility on or around 02/03/2022. Interviews with parents also corroborated the facility staffs\342\200\231 statements. During interviews conducted with staff on 03/03/2022, LPA was informed that there were no additional positive COVID cases reported to staff. On 03/11/2022, LPA King contacted the Director via email to retrieve additional information for the investigation, asking Ms. Brody again if there were any further COVID-19 cases reported to the facility due to COVID cases/exposures that was reported back in February 2022. The Director informed LPA King via email that the facility did receive a notification from a parent on 02/08/2022, indicating that their child (C1) along with their entire family tested positive for COVID. However, the email was not opened/read until 02/09/2022, as the parent\342\200\231s email was sent after the facility closed for the day. Additionally, according to Ms. Brody, the family did not provide any verification of their positive COVID-19 test results to the facility staff. The Director also advised LPA King that due to the situation and the lack of any kind of documentation of the positive test results, they did not feel that there was a correlation between the exposure at school and the claim that the entire family was COVID positive, especially since no other families had notified the facility of any additional sicknesses. Based upon the information gathered and the Director's own admission that the facility was notified of a third positive COVID-19 case when the two previous positives cases occurred in February and the staff did not notify parents, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, and therefore, the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED. See LIC 9099D for deficiency cited. An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report was reviewed and provided to the Director Theresa Brody. Appeal rights were discussed and provided during the exit interview. A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.