ARTHUR – A retirement and long term care home in Arthur dealing with a growing COVID-19 outbreak is working with health officials to control the situation.
As of noon Wednesday, Caressant Care in Arthur has a combined total of 46 active cases in its retirement and long-term care facilities.
An outbreak was initially declared Dec. 12.
The retirement home has 21 cases in residents and 10 from staff while the long-term care has eight residents and seven employees who have tested positive.
This is the largest active outbreak in the region.
Danny Williamson, spokesperson for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, explained the outbreak cases indicate a link between cases but does not necessarily reflect current active cases.
“An outbreak is declared around epidemiologically linked cases, which means you’re seeing at least two cases that are linked to another,” Williamson said, clarifying that in long-term care an outbreak is declared with one case. “So someone got it from someone else in the facility.”
Caressant Care spokesperson Stuart Oakley said the company is reviewing the current situation with public health daily to control the spread.
“We are in constant touch with public health and with community partners who are assisting as required with additional staffing to help manage this outbreak,” Oakley said via email.
“We are also grateful for the assistance of the local paramedic service who are helping with remote patient monitoring of 12 retirement home residents.”
Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service could not be reached for comment to clarify their involvement.
Williamson explained that declaring an outbreak is a mechanism used to work with facilities as they don’t normally have a specific day-to-day role other than oversight of the kitchen.
Through the outbreak, public health has a role in case and contact management as well as auditing infection prevention and control (IPAC) measures.
“Do they have the correct measures in place in terms of cleaning, infection control, PPE use and are they following them,” Williamson explained.
Oakley said deep cleaning is done daily, managers are on site, the home has adequate PPE and there is ongoing communication with Caressant Care corporate staff to discuss what supports are needed.
“We have an incredibly capable team at Caressant Care Arthur who are working around the clock to ensure residents are cared for and to help stop further spread,” Oakley said.
Oakley said the home stays in touch with residents’ family members so they know what is happening and if there is a change to their status.
As those in long-term care have a concentration of vulnerable people, Williamson said this is why there is a push to prioritize vaccination in these facilities.
