MEMO delivered in Menno Apartments

Date:         December 16, 2021
To:             All Menno Apartments Residents
Re:             Overnight trips and rapid tests
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Dear Residents,

As we get closer to Christmas you may be planning an overnight trip to visit friends and family. If you are away from home overnight or longer you need to do a COVID rapid test when you get home.

This is NOT the same as a full COVID swab test. The rapid test is an easy test that you can do yourself right here on campus. Rapid tests are painless, far less invasive and the results are available in 15 minutes.

If you are going to be away overnight:

1. Get a rapid test kit before you go. Kits are available at reception, in the dining room, from the visitation hosts and from Tamara, Life Enrichment Associate, in Pavilion. Each kit contains the test along with an instruction card that shows you how to do it.
2. When you get home, go directly your apartment and take the rapid test. Stay in your apartment until you have your test results. This will take 15 minutes.

If the test is negative, call reception to report your negative result. Then throw the test away and there’s nothing else you need to do. Welcome home!

If the test is positive call reception to report your positive result.  On the weekend, call the kitchen to let them know you need your meal(s) delivered. You will need to the COVID testing site at 32470 Haida Drive for a swab or gargle test. Isolate and follow the instructions from the testing site.

Enjoy your visits and thank you for working with us to keep everyone safe.

Merry Christmas!

COVID UPDATE – November 20, 2021 – Pavilion OFF Enhanced Monitoring

We are pleased to announce that Pavilion has been declared OFF Enhanced Monitoring by Public Health.

Residents may return to normal activities, including having social vaccinated visitors, going out for activities and visiting with each other.

As always, our lives now have layers of safety to protect ourselves from getting COVID:

1. Wear a mask in all common areas of Pavilion and anywhere in the public including when you go to church
2. Follow Public Health Orders, including the specific orders for Fraser Valley East: CLICK TO READ
3. Exercise caution when you are visiting with people outside of your immediate bubble – wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, use hand sanitizer
4. Hand hygiene – carry hand sanitizer with you and use it every time you touch a “common” area such as elevator buttons, hand railings, door knobs, grocery cart
5. Social distance – we continue to use the 6 foot distance to protect ourselves from the unintended droplets that are imperceptible from others when they speak, etc.  – Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from other people. Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

We will provide information to you about returning to the dining room next week.

If you are fully vaccinated PLUS have the booster shot do you need to practice layers of safety? Yes. This is a time to be cautious as the prevalence of COVID is high in our community. There are several churches in Abbotsford that unintentionally became a place of COVID spread. You can read about Clearbrook MB Church’s experience here – READ HERE

As an elderly person, your risks for severe illness with COVID-19 are higher. If you have other health issues, this compounds the risk for you. With vaccination and a medical mask covering nose and mouth (available in the foyer), you have effective layers of protection to keep you safe when you are among others.

Should you wash the medical masks and re-use them? No. These masks are intended for single-use. They are provided to you at no cost through Menno Place. It is more important to protect yourself than to save money. If you wash them, you reduce their effectiveness and increase your risk of contracting COVID.

Thanks for all you do to keep yourself and others safe!

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NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 (2 residents PAVILION | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = November 4, 2021