VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Letters hanging on the doorknob are not unusual at Friendship Village Apartments in Virginia Beach.
“It’s usually a newsletter saying what’s going on in the neighborhood or things they are doing at the center for the children,” a resident who does not want to be identified told us.
The letter she received Thursday evening was far from a monthly check-in. It reads, “You may have been exposed to the COVID-19 coronavirus."
“When I did get the letter, I asked, ‘Wow, are you serious?' She just shook her head and said, 'It's under investigation,'" the woman tells News 3.
She was home when an employee of the complex was putting the notices on doors.
“I was scared. I have a younger one. I have an infant,” she tells us.
A 12-month-old baby and two relatives who are high-risk.
In the letter, the property management company CHP, Community Housing Partners, says the, “time period for the risk of exposure is March 5th to March 19th … Those who were present on the property during this period may be at some heightened risk of the COVID-19 infection."
The woman tells News 3 she immediately packed up her stuff and left. After that, she made some calls to the management company, which is located in Richmond, and the leasing office, which has been closed beginning of the week due to the coronavirus.
“I just wanted to talk. No one answered. I called two or three times and no one answered,” she adds.
“What are they doing to keep everyone safe as far as the tenants and the employees?" she asked.
In the letter, management says they are increasing their cleaning and sanitation procedures.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, there are four confirmed cases in Virginia Beach.
Related: Every region in Virginia now has a case of coronavirus
“Are they one of the four? 'Cause that’s very scary," she said.
The tenant also tells us she will move back home eventually, but right now she’s going to monitor her health and her baby's health far away from the complex.
CHP responded to News 3 Monday with a statement concerning new updates and protocol during the pandemic.
CHP says they have taken active steps at Friendship Village Apartments, and at their other communities, to keep residents and employees safe. All corporate and property offices, including community centers, community rooms, and common spaces have been closed to mitigate the risk of spreading infection via face-to-face interactions.
According to CHP, employees are now working from home, and we have forwarded calls so that our residents and partners can reach our staff. Maintenance employees will only be completing emergency work orders.
Employees who have confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus are not allowed to return until the recommended amount of time has passed. We have also asked any staff member who has been exposed to another employee or resident with a suspected or confirmed case to stay home.
The company says it will not release medical information, but they say they are fully aware of the situation at Friendship Village Apartments.
