UPDATE: FIFTH PERSON CLEARED OF COVID-19 AT PINES
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
BRACEBRIDGE — The fifth person being tested for COVID-19 at the Pines has been cleared of the coronavirus, officials said just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
That good news follows a health scare at the Pines retirement home this week that led to “COVID-19” testing.
And it led to an “extended outbreak designation to the entire home facility.”
A release from the District of Muskoka did not say when the patients were diagnosed or when they were tested.
Tests have typically taken days to turn around, but may have been expedited as these cases were in an long-term care facility.
This follows two more overnight deaths Thursday at the Pinecrest Nursing home in Bobaygeon, where 17 people have now died.
Local health officials here today at the District of Muskoka say a “potential respiratory outbreak” has now been averted.
They said in an earlier release April 2 that “test results for COVID-19 and influenza A and B for the four symptomatic residents identified on Tuesday (March 30) have come back negative.”
“The health and safety of all of our residents and staff remains our top priority.
“Thank you to the community for expressing your support to the Pines during this very challenging time. Our residents, their families and our staff truly appreciate the encouragement and best wishes you have shared with us.”
They say that on April 1 a fifth resident displayed mild symptoms and was also moved to the isolation area that has been prepared in the home.
This resident’s family was notified and diagnostic swabs were taken for testing.
Results were pending from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU).
And, now, those results have come back negative and as of late Thursday afternoon been reported negative.
Due to the fifth resident showing symptoms, SMDHU extended “outbreak designation” to the entire home facility as per protocols for any potential respiratory outbreak.
The district says it is working closely with SMDHU to ensure all necessary precautions are taken and protocols are followed.
“We continue to take deliberate steps to ensure the health and wellbeing of our residents and staff” including:
- Restricting all visitors, volunteers and non-essential health care personnelfrom visiting the facility, except for compassionate reasons such as end-of-life situations.
- Actively screening all residents twice daily
- Actively screening all health care personnel for respiratory symptoms including actively checking temperatures for a fever at the beginning of each shift. Anyone with these symptoms will not be permitted to enter the facility at any time.
The health unit posted this chart below for Muskoka institutional outbreaks:
| 3/26/2020 | Muskoka Landing | Home Area 2 | LTCH | Huntsville | suspect respiratory | Unknown | 3/31/2020 |
| 3/19/2020 | Muskoka Traditions | Facility wide | RHome | Huntsville | respiratory | Not Influenza | |
| 3/31/2020 | Pines Long Term Care Residence, The | Facility wide | LTCH | Bracebridge | respiratory | Not Influenza |
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