Infections! Infections! Zombies!

Just an interesting (and morbid) nugget from North Canaan: the Geer Village retirement community had to initiate a quasi-quarantine over the last couple of weeks (not allowing new admissions, and closing the nursing center there) to keep a gastrointestinal virus under control. The precautions were lifted this Monday.

John Horstman, chief administrator of Geer, tells me that visitors were allowed in “if they dared,” and that this has happened once before. He also adds that the flu season scarcely touches Geer because most residents (around 95 percent) are diligent about getting their flu shots.

“I don’t like to keep families away,” Mr. Horstman told me today. “It’s healthy for residents to see their families, but it wasn’t right for us to bring in frail, elderly people.”

Mr. Horstman informs me that Noble Horizons in Salisbury had similar controls in place, but their director wasn’t available for comment.

The message from Geer and Noble is clear and appropriate for the rest of us as well during the season when we are all forced indoors with each other: stay safe, wash your hands and try not to infect your coworkers if at all possible.