MARS — Mayor Gregg Hartung informed members of the council Monday night that St. John Community of Mars — part of the senior living Lutheran SeniorLife family of facilities — has confirmed cases of COVID-19.

However, Hartung assured council that any cases are being managed per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

“There are cases,” Hartung said. “But they are controlling them.”

Hartung said facility administrators are also being cautious of the current flu season and the effects cold weather will have on residents.

Hartung said a St. John's spokesperson informed him the official number of COVID-19 cases isn't available to the public due to health care confidentiality.

“They can't give numbers,” Hartung said, “because of HIPAA.”

Among the prevention measures put in place is limited public access to the facility in order to minimize exposure among residents, according to Hartung.

Hartung also said those infected are in quarantine.

“There should be no community spread,” Hartung said.

According to skilled nursing case data listed on the St. John website, the first case of COVID-19 among either residents or staff occurred in mid-June. During the last week of October, 16 residents and three staff members reportedly tested positive.

To date, St. John has reported 21 cases among residents and eight cases among staff, according to its website.

St. John did not have a representative present during the meeting. The Eagle did not contact St. John for comment due to Monday's print deadline.