Ishmael Komara, the director of nursing at the Benedictine Health Center nursing facility in New Brighton, has spent much of his time since March rallying for the care of vulnerable patients at the center who tested positive for COVID-19.

A total of 81 residents and 26 staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began. All affected staff fully recovered and 67 residents recovered, while 14 residents died. The facility has been COVID-19-free since July 20, Catholic Health World (CHW) reported.

Komara and his staff began to prepare for an outbreak after the news broke about a nursing facility in Washington. While still in the beginning stages of preparing, their first patient was diagnosed and several others followed.

Ishmael Komara | Facebook

Komara and team moved the patients to an isolated area in the facility and certain staff members were chosen to watch over them, CHW reported.

Komara himself was then diagnosed with COVID-19 and was home sick for 12 days while he treated his symptoms. He said the staff have been worried about bringing home the virus to their families.

"But I tell the staff, 'Here's what I can assure you: I will give you full PPE (personal protective equipment),'" Komara told CHW. "'I want you to wash your hands. And if you do those things, you will be safe.'"

Komara created a GroupMe forum for his staff so that they could share their ideas and support. He said he wanted to make sure the staff had a place to express their fears and have input on decision-making.

"My main takeaway from this time has been about the importance of having relationships as a team, and with our patients and with their families, and that is very key in all of this," Komara said. "It goes directly back to those same values again because at the end of the day, how we see each other, how we treat each other and what it means to be in the same space is so significant."