The seats, normally filled with about 50 residents and staff, were empty except for one.

Director of Engagement Denise Halverson filled that one.

Owen needs more than herself for a service.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name,” she said, reading from Matthew 18:20. “There I am in the midst of them.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The Rev. Jennifer Owen leads Thursday afternoon vespers in the Tompkins Celebration Center at Friendship Haven as Julie Thorson, President/CEO waits to make a live announcement on their internal TV channel. As of noon today, Friendship Haven will no longer allow visitors as part of their protocol to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The room was empty because of an unseen microscopic threat, the COVID-19 virus.

At noon today, the prevention measures there will go beyond suspending church services and social events.

Visitors will no longer be allowed on the campus.

President/CEO Julie Thorson went live on Friendship Haven’s internal TV channel to talk to residents and staff.

“As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and our federal government,” she said. “Visitors will no longer be allowed on the Friendship Haven campus.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Molly Morris, neighborhood coordinator of Arbor Lane at Friendship Haven, helped screen visitors there Thursday afternoon as part of their protocol to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As of noon today, visitors will no longer be allowed on the campus.

They are also taking other internal measures.

“Our Wellness Center, Pocket Door gift shop and Stop N’Shop will be closed till further notice,” she said.

Volunteers do not need to report for their duties.

She also said that doors between different neighborhoods will be closed and residents are asked to stay in their areas. Residents are asked not to travel off campus if possible.

She understands the no visitors policy might be hard on families.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The Marian Home and Village isn’t allowing visitors in an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“We do encourage staying in contact with your loved ones by phone or video chat,” she said.

She’s also set up an information number with messages that are updated daily at (515) 573-6789.

Visitors who meet the criteria will be screened when they arrive. Screening was already in place for several days before today’s visitor restrictions.

Friendship Haven isn’t the only care facility in Webster County that’s taking the precaution of banning visitors to protect their residents.

The Marian Home and Village is also off limits..

Executive Director Tracy Trotter said that there are only a few exceptions.

“Allowances for visiting are only made for medical professionals, staff, deliveries and family members with residents that are nearing the end of life,” Trotter said.

Those individuals are subject to screening.

“Anyone entering our building is screened for the following,” she said. “Fever, cough, sore throat, new shortness of breath or other acute respiratory symptoms. They are asked about travel internationally within the last 14 days where COVID-19 is prevalent, have they worked in another health system with confirmed cases.”

Similar protocols are in place at Fort Dodge Villa Care Center which is has also instituted a no visitor policy.

Jessica Bellinger, social services designee at Villa Care ,said who is allowed in after being screened carefully is much the same as Friendship Haven and Marian Home.

“Vendors, medical professionals, employees and family members of hospice care,” Bellinger said. “Any of those are able to come in but are getting screened at our north entrance.”

There are several other measures that some of the facilities have put into place. Villa Care, Bellinger said, has stopped large group activities for residents and have gone to two meal shifts instead of one to help keep residents less likely to have close contact.

Marian Home has also gone to small group activities, Trotter said.

In Dayton, the Grandview Health Care Center is also off limits to visitors. They announced the new policy on their Facebook page Wednesday afternoon.

“Until further notice we are stringently implementing our infection control teaching and training per CDC and Health Department Guidelines,” the statement read. “Visitation is restricted to protect our patients. Our patients health and safety is our highest priority.”

Bickford Senior Living Director Chad Hammar said that while they haven’t barred visitors, they have put a number of measures into effect to protect their residents.

The protocols are very much the same as they use to combat the flu: handwashing, monitoring of symptoms, education, cough covering, enhanced daily cleaning and being mindful of facial contact and asking residents to stay in their apartments when ill.

“We are asking family members and visitors to stay at home if they have cold or flu symptoms,” Hammar said. “They need to wait 72 hours after all symptoms have stopped and check in with the nurse coordinator before they visit.”

Staff at the area’s care centers are also getting refresher courses and if needed, taking extra precautions.

If you work at Marian Home you’ll get your temperature taken when you arrive for work.

“All staff is screened for a fever at the time of their arrival to work,” Trotter said. “They’re encouraged to not come to work if feeling ill or symptomatic.”

Additional workshops and in-service sessions have also been held at Friendship Haven, Villa Care and Marian Home.

Keeping the flow of information flowing to residents, staff and families is a high priority.

It’s also important that it’s accurate.

“We encourage our staff, residents, tenants, families and friends to contact us with any question or concerns at any time,” Trotter said. “Rely on the information that comes from public health entities such as the Webster County Public Health Department, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the CDC.”

Several changes in the visitor policy at UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center are also in effect according to a statement they released.

“Patients are limited to two adults 18 or over at any one time. Visitors under 18 may visit only if they are an immediate family member and are considered by the patient’s health care team to be essential to the patients well being. All visitors must be healthy. No visitors permitted exhibiting any signs of illness.”

The Trinity Hall Walker Path is also temporarily closed due to high influenza activity.

Similar restrictions are in place at Stewart Memorial Community Hospital in Lake City according to Jennifer Snyder, marketing coordinator, with a few additions.

“All visitors are required to wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol hand foam before entering and after exciting a patient room,” she said. “The hospital is postponing all meetings, clubs and events until further notice.”

All of those talked to stressed that the no visitor policies are a preventive and proactive step. They are taken to avoid the residents, already a high risk group, from being exposed to COVID-19.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, according to Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich, there are no cases in Webster County.

Owen will remain on the job at Friendship Haven. This coming Sunday, her service will be broadcast over the internal TV channel.

The chairs in the Tompkins Center will once again be empty but there will be a service.

“I’ve never preached to an empty room,” she said.

It will be a new experience for her, but one she’s willing to have to keep the residents safe.