Seven Burnaby residents have now died in a COVID-19 outbreak at a local care home.
New Vista Care Home updated the families of residents in a Sept. 1 email that was shared with the NOW.
In the email, it lists 22 residents and 11 staff members having tested positive for COVID-19, with seven residents having died. The email also details steps being taken to deal with the crisis.
“Further to the update on August 28th, we want to advise you that there are (22) residents and (11) staff members, of the New Vista Care Home that tested positive for COVID-19,” says the email. “Nine residents with COVID are being cared for by our clinical team in isolation areas. Six residents and five staff members have recovered and sadly we’ve had seven residents pass away. We are now testing residents in two villages on a weekly basis as requested by Public Health. We appreciate the patience, understanding and kindness from resident families. Our staff are working incredibly hard to keep your loved ones safe and we ask that you keep interactions with us respectful during these challenging times.”
Based on direction from Fraser Health, all residents are taking meals in their rooms and have been isolated from other residents, the email says.
“Any essential visitations to the Care Home, except in cases where residents are palliative, remain suspended until further notice. Any visitor for residents that are palliative will be screened and asked to wear PPE. These measures are in place to keep residents and families safe. The timetable for when these restrictions can be re-considered is late September at the earliest and we ask and thank-you for your co-operation.”
Fraser Health’s Communicable Disease Control team is now on site seven days per week, and continue to work with New Vista staff to “identify anyone who may have been exposed and to take steps to protect the health of all residents and staff. We are following the direction of Fraser Health very closely, and are glad and thankful to have their help,” says the email.
There have been recent outbreaks at other Burnaby care homes. Health officials announced Monday that a staff member at the Edmonds-area Normanna Living facility had tested positive for the virus.
The staff member is now in self-isolation at home, according to a Fraser Health news release sent out Monday, and the health authority has deployed a rapid response team to the care home – a 100-bed non-profit facility owned and operated by the Norwegian Old People's Home Association.
The rapid response teams include clinical nurse educators, infection prevention and control experts, screeners and patient-care quality officers to support communication to families and the assessment of symptoms at sites with outbreaks.
Through these teams, sites are also connected with emergency supplies and additional personnel if needed.
The announcement of the outbreak came on the same day that an outbreak at Dania Home on Norland Avenue in Central Burnaby was declared over.
There are also active outbreaks at the Derby Manor independent living facility and the George Derby Centre long-term care facility.
- With files from Cornelia Naylor
