Minnesota senior facility evacuated due to virus to close

A Minneapolis-area senior living facility that was evacuated earlier this month after an outbreak of COVID-19 announced Monday it won’t reopen.

The nonprofit organization Transforming Age said it has made "the difficult decision" not to reopen Meridian Manor in Wayzata "as a result of multiple negative impacts of COVID-19."

Nearly 50 residents were moved from Meridian Manor on April 18 after the Minnesota Department of Health said a majority of staff members and administrators at the facility became sick and were unable to care for residents.

Follow KSTP’s complete COVID-19 coverage

As of Monday, 21 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 out of 59 residents. Two residents have died due to complications from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. In addition, 13 employees also have tested positive and are quarantining at home, Transforming Age said.

"Our mission is first and foremost to serve seniors, and the multiple impacts of COVID-19 has made it impossible for our team at Meridian Manor to continue our mission at the community," Transforming Age president and CEO Torsten Hirche said in a statement.

Meridian Manor is providing professional moving services to all residents, at no cost. Residents also are being offered complimentary rent at other Transforming Age communities that have no known cases of COVID-19.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.