Long-term care facilities, prisons, and meat packing plants have shown to be hotbeds across the nation for potential COVID-19 outbreaks, and one such institution in Perry has joined the growing list.

Pearl Valley Rehabilitation and Health Care Center was revealed by the Iowa Department of Public Health as having 12 confirmed positive cases of coronavirus. The elder care facility has notified residents and their families, and the affected individuals are in isolation in accordance with IDPH guidelines. The Dallas County Health Department is working closely with the Pearl Valley staff and the state to protect the health of all residents and staff, with additional testing being conducted. DCHD Director Suzanne Hegarty said in a statement, “Protecting the health and wellbeing of the residents and staff is of the highest priority. We know our older population is at the highest risk for serious COVID-19 illness, so we are monitoring the situation carefully and taking the highest precautions to prevent virus spread.”

The IDPH classifies an outbreak as any time three or more cases of the virus are identified among frequent occupants of a facility. This is the second such occurrence in Dallas County during the pandemic, with an unknown number of Tyson Fresh Meats employees at the Perry plant also testing positive. Pearl Valley has not yet returned a request for comment.