WEBSTER, N.Y. — ​Rochester Regional Health says that it is opening a new unit at Hill Haven Nursing Home that will accept COVID-19 patients if other long-term care facilities can’t cohort COVID patients.

Cohorting is when COVID-19 patients are placed in a dedicated unit away from other patients to prevent the spread of the virus.

All residents and staff members in the new COVID-19 until will be separated from the rest of the facility.

COVID-19 patients brought to Hill Haven from other facilities will be transferred back to their home facility after their recover.  

"The majority of nursing home and assisted-living residents who contract COVID-19 will not require hospital care, but they all need to be cared for. This unit can help provide that care should a facility exceed its ability to safely cohort their residents," Scott Schabel, senior medical director of Long-Term Care, said.