Administrator at Watsonville Post Acute steps down, county confirms 14 COVID-19 related deaths

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION) Administer Gerald E. Hunter at the Watsonville Post Acute Center announced that he will be stepping down as the facility's administrator.

He named Rae Ann Radford as the new administrator and did not give a reason for the change.

The facility has had a total of 14 COVID-19 related deaths so far as a result of an outbreak, according to the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency. As of last week, there were only 12.

The Health Services Agency said a total of 50 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 out of 73, and twenty total staff members have tested positive. The facility reports that there are currently only two active cases- a resident and a staff member. The county said it has not tracked active cases at the facility.

Members of the California National Guard were called out to assist with the outbreak and fill in for infected staff members.

Hunter said he anticipates that there will be new visitation guidelines released soon by the California Department of Public Health.