St. Joseph's Health Centre in Guelph says all 297 patients and residents at the facility tested negative for COVID-19 during a recent test blitz the facility did, although two staff members did test positive.
All staff and residents were tested by Public Health between April 17 to April 20.
So far, results of 75 per cent of the tests done on staff (almost 400 results) have come back, with two staff members testing positive, says a news release from St. Joseph's. Those two staff members are self-isolating at home.
“It is an immense relief to know that, when the swabs were completed, none of the patients or residents at St. Joseph’s were positive for COVID-19,” said St. Joseph's president David Wormald in a press release.
“We realize this is only a snapshot that provides information at a single point in time. We must remain vigilant and continue our exceptional infection prevention and control practices.”
Testing asymptomatic patients, residents and staff was one of the extra steps St. Joe's and other long-term care, nursing and retirement facilities are taking out of growing concern that people could be infected with COVID-19, but not show symptoms of illness.