300 AT PINES GET CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH AFTER TESTING

BRACEBRIDGE — Tests of more than 300 residents and staff that the Pines for the corona virus have come back clean.

The province forced the District of Muskoka and other retirement homes to conduct COVID-19 testing at the long-term care home, which took place in Bracebridge May 4-7.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit released the results of nearly 310 tests today, Wednesday, May 13.

And while measures to prevent the pandemic’s spread in-house are welcoming news, officials say they will continue those efforts.

“We are doing our absolute best to be diligent in our ongoing proactive measures to keep residents and staff safe. We will continue to provide regular updates,” said Norm Barrette, Muskoka’s commissioner of health services.

“Since the onset of the pandemic we have been ahead of the curve. Our team has consistently gone over and above provincial guidelines, working hard to put preventative and precautionary measures in place,” added Pines administrator Kim Landry.

“Thank you to our team — all our staff at the Pines — and to the community for your continued support during this time.”

Public works parade recognizes workers

Meanwhile, more than a dozen Bracebridge and district public works staff led a motorcade of their vehicles today to recognize local heroes providing health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They paraded to the Pines, South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, James Street Retirement Residence, Muskoka Hills Retirement Villa and Castle Peak Retirement Residence.

One person out waving could be heard to say “that’s awesome.”

“That’s awesome” said one person waving at the public works parade at the Pines, where they got a clean bill of health on their COVID-19 testing.
More than a dozen public works vehicles from Bracebridge and district toured Castle Peak, a number of LTCs and the hospital today to salute workers there. Online video showed supportive staff and residents waving.