KinVillage has reported a third resident has tested positive for COVID-19 and now also several staff members.
All three residents who have tested positive are on the third floor of South Court (assisted living) in Tsawwassen.
“No staff have tested positive. As of today (Saturday) no other South Court residents or staff have reported symptoms,” said KinVillage in an update posted on its website Saturday night. “The point Prevalence Testing (Nasopharyngeal) for third floor residents and staff completed on Jan. 4 will be repeated again on Jan. 11 and Jan. 18 to hopefully confirm clear results for a two-week period from when the outbreak was declared on Jan. 3.”
KinVillage says the first and second floors are not affected by the outbreak. Residents of these two floors, along with staff, who wanted to be vaccinated against COVID-19, were to be immunized last Monday, Jan. 4. Residents of the third floor will have an opportunity to be vaccinated on Monday, Jan. 11.
Public Health Officer declares outbreak in West Court
KinVillage said they were thrilled that Fraser Health offered one of its first on-site COVID-19 vaccination clinics at KinVillage last week. In total, 240 care home and assisted living residents and staff received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine,” said KinVillage. “So we were all especially disappointed to learn late on Wednesday, Jan. 6 that a West Court (care home) staff member tested positive for the virus. After carefully assessing the circumstances, Public Health directed additional infection control measures be put in place and that staff identified as having close contact with the COVID-19 positive staff member be tested. Unfortunately, two more staff members were confirm positive and this afternoon the Medical Health Officer declared an outbreak in West Court.”
KinVillage said currently, no residents in West Court have symptoms and the three affected staff are self-isolating at home. As directed by the Medical Health Officer, swabbing is being done on all West Court staff.
KinVillage says in addition to existing public health and Fraser Health infection control measures already in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (twice daily monitoring of all residents and staff; enhanced cleaning protocols), the following measures were put in place on Jan. 7:
- Enhanced monitoring of residents and staff for symptoms.
- Residents need to remain in their rooms. Group activities have been suspended. Room service for meals is being provided.
- Visits including in-person, glass-door and window visits have been suspended.
- Admissions to the care home are on hold.
“KinVillage staff are working closely with Fraser Health to focus on the steps necessary to reduce the risk of further transmission of the virus in the care home, to protect the safety of residents and staff and to continue caring for residents,” said KinVillage.
This is now the third outbreak at KinVillage.
Fraser Health declared the first outbreak at KinVillage Sept. 3, after a staff member tested positive. During that outbreak a total of four people were infected and sadly, one resident died.
