A long term care facility is the first in the Vancouver Island Health region to declare a COVID-19 outbreak.
A statement from Island Health Tuesday morning confirms that one staff member at Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens long-term care home in Port Alberni has tested positive for COVID-19.
The outbreak was detected on Monday, November 16.
No residents are currently showing symptoms of the virus.
The staff member who tested positive is currently self isolating at home and the entire long term care facility site is now closed to admissions, transfers and visitors.
The following measures have been implemented at the site:
- Staffing levels will be maintained to provide resident care.
- Visitors are restricted throughout the facility.
- Staff and resident movement in the facility has been restricted.
- Cleaning and infection control measures have been enhanced.
- Residents, families and staff are being notified.
- Twice a day screening of all staff and residents.
Additionally, more Island Health staff will be assigned to the facility to “take any further actions required” and answer questions from staff, residents and family members.
The health authority has worked with staff at Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
There is no current information about how many people came into contact with the staff member who tested positive.
Rainbow Gardens is a not-for-profit facility operated by WestCoast Native Health Care Society.
A second health care facility outbreak is also ongoing in a Transitional Care Unit Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. That outbreak was detected on November 11.
