SECOND PERSON AT PINES HAS COVID-19, AS TEST RESULTS PENDING
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
BRACEBRIDGE — A second person at The Pines has tested positive for COVID-19.
After a male worker tested positive a resident has now come down with the coronavirus.
Both have mild symptoms, says a District of Muskoka release tonight.
They say the resident has been moved to an isolation area to recover, while the staff member continues to recover at home with mild symptoms over a 14-day isolation period.
The resident’s family has been contacted by the home’s medical director.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) advised the district on Sunday, Aug. 30, that the male staff member from the long-term care home tested positive in testing Aug. 25-28.
In follow up to that positive staff case, testing of all residents was completed Tuesday, Sept. 1, and staff testing continued today.
And so far, the district has received the results of nearly all of the resident testing.
No other positive cases have been reported so far.
Results of staff testing and any additional testing will be reported first to residents, family and staff.
As a result, a number of steps began Sept. 1 to contain the “institutional outbreak” that was declared by the health unit.
They include:
- An isolation area has been established
- Deep-cleaning of all home and common areas of the Pines continues, with increased daily cleaning of high-touch surfaces
- Personal protective equipment continues to be readily available
- Notification was made to the Ministry of Labour of the current situation.
Meanwhile, all resident visits will remain suspended until clearance by the health unit.
“Our dedicated staff continue to go above and beyond to ensure the health and safety of our residents and to provide comfort to them during this difficult time,” said Norm Barrette, the district’s commissioner of health services.
“Our staff have gone the extra mile throughout the pandemic and continue to be the true heroes,” added Kim Landry, The Pines administrator. “Staff members treat each and every resident like they were their own parent, and we are immensely proud and appreciative of their dedication to keep our residents safe.”
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