Island Health’s outbreak response has identified eight additional cases of COVID-19 related to the outbreak declared at Sunset Lodge long-term care home on August 27.
Seven additional residents and one additional staff person have tested positive. The new cases were detected through testing performed on August 31. In total, 14 staff and 20 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. To date, more than 200 tests (80 resident tests and 121 staff tests) have had negative results.
The majority of the residents continue to experience mild or no symptoms.
Extensive control measures were put in place immediately when the outbreak was declared and Island Health’s COVID-19 Long-term Care Rapid Response team continues to have a presence to support the site through this outbreak. Island Health’s Medical Health Officer is confident that appropriate and effective control measures are in place, and these are being reviewed with the facility on a regular basis.
These include:
- Admissions, transfers and social visits are on hold while the outbreak is in effect
- Resident and staff movement is limited
- Staffing levels are maintained to provide resident care
- Mask use and eye protection is required for all staff
- Social visitors are restricted but essential visits may occur
- Enhanced cleaning and infection control measures continue
- Residents, families and staff are being notified
- Twice a day screening of all staff and residents continues
- Expanded COVID-19 testing will be done
Because COVID-19 can have an incubation period spanning multiple days, it is likely that new positive results are a result of transmission that occurred prior to the outbreak being identified.
Sunset Lodge is owned and operated by the Salvation Army. Island Health will continue to work with leadership and staff to respond to the outbreak and protect the health of all residents and staff. Communication with residents, families and staff is ongoing.
For more information about COVID-19, please visit: www.islandhealth.ca/covid19.