A second resident has tested positive for COVID-19 at a long-term care home in Nanaimo.
Island Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Chartwell Malaspina Care Residence on Sunday, after a resident tested positive.
That person has been isolated to their room and the affected unit will in turn be isolated from the rest of the building.
According to Island Health, the second resident, who is a close contact of the first confirmed case, tested positive for the virus today and is being isolated to their room.
Communication with residents, families and staff is underway.
“Island Health’s public health team is working with Chartwell Malaspina Care Residence staff to carry out contact tracing to determine how the virus was introduced into the facility and to minimize potential for spread,” the health authority said in a media release.
“Island Health is working with Chartwell Malaspina leadership and staff to identify anyone who may have been exposed and is taking steps to protect the health of all residents and staff.”
Visitations, admissions and transfers to Malaspina have been stopped.
The health authority is also implementing enhanced control measures, including restricting staff and resident movements, extra cleaning and infection control, and twice-daily screening of all staff and residents.
Staffing levels will be maintained through the outbreak to provide resident care, while Island Health will be providing an additional presence at the site to take any further actions as required.
During this time, Island Health will have an additional presence at the site to take any further actions required, support the facility and answer questions from staff, residents and family members.
