NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0
TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 5 (5 residents | 0 staff)
We are happy to report that, at this time, we have no new COVID positive residents or staff. We await the results of the point prevalence testing from floors 1-4.
Terrace West is NOT on outbreak. Residents in Terrace West may continue to use the dining room.
NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 resident
TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 3 (3 residents | 0 staff)
We are sad to report that a third case of COVID was confirmed today with 2 additional residents swabbed. This resident was symptomatic and swabbed by Terrace East nurse. Families have been informed. Even the mildest symptoms must be reported to the nurse so that a COVID swab can be done. Many fully vaccinated individuals are experiencing COVID with mild symptoms. Please encourage your loved one to report their symptoms.
Point prevalence testing was completed yesterday for residents on the 5th and 6th floors. Results are not yet returned. All staff who worked in Terrace East between September 8 and 12th have also been ordered to be swabbed in this first point-prevalence. This is usually the first thing that is done when a COVID positive person is identified. The swabbing of all people surrounding the COVID positive provides a baseline of information about where COVID is present in the building. This gives Public Health a clearer picture and enables effective action.
With this news, Public Health has declared the entire Terrace East apartment building on outbreak. This means that all residents must remain in their apartment suites. Terrace West is NOT on outbreak. Residents in Terrace West will be given information about using the dining room tomorrow when we hear back from public health.
PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL BE ACCEPTING GROCERY DELIVERIES ON THURSDAYS FROM 1PM – 3PM.
We may open up more opportunities as we are able, but this is what we can do at this time.
See memo (below) for information on how to manage resident appointments. It is unlikely that a service provider will provide services to someone who is living in a COVID outbreak setting unless those services are life-sustaining such as dialysis, chemotherapy or post-surgical treatment. In these cases, it is likely that a resident will need to wear full PPE for their appointment.
———————————————————————————————————————–
The following memo is being handed out tonight to the residents of Terrace East:
Date: September 14, 2021
To: Residents of Terrace East
Re: Three COVID-19 positive residents in Terrace East
__________________________________________________________________
There is a third COVID positive resident in Terrace East. As a result all of Terrace East is on outbreak. In addition, two residents have been swabbed (tested) for COVID. Families have been notified.
Outbreak means that all residents of Terrace East must remain in their apartment suite until the outbreak is declared over. Meals will be delivered to your suite. Loved ones can drop off groceries on Thursdays from 1pm – 3pm beginning on Thursday, September 16, 2021. These will be delivered to your suite.
Your care givers will be coming into your suite wearing full Personal Protective Equipment – mask, gown, goggles and gloves. This does not mean that you are COVID positive. It is a layer of protection to keep both yourself and your caregiver safe. You may also wear a mask. This is an additional layer of protection. Menno Place will provide medical masks to your apartment suite.
If you need to go to an appointment, please follow these directions:
Phone your service provider (Renal speciality for dialysis, oncologist, surgeon, dentist, etc.) and ask them how to manage your appointment as you are living in a COVID outbreak apartment building. They will provide you with details on how to receive a life-sustaining treatment or they will re-book your appointment when it is safe to do so.
This is a difficult time for residents, especially as we do not know how long it will be that we are on outbreak. It is a good idea to phone the people you love and connect with them regularly. We are encouraging them to phone you.
We are pleased to remind you that we have a very high percentage of fully vaccinated residents and staff. We are finding in the Menno Home outbreak that the severity of the symptoms is significantly less for those vaccinated than for the unvaccinated. This is very good news. It reminds us, however, that it is essential to report even the mildest of symptoms to the nursing team
Vaccine is not 100% protection, but it is the BEST protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death. There are still fully vaccinated individuals contracting COVID and going to intensive care. Of the fully vaccinated in ICU, the majority of them are over 70 years old. This is still a dangerous illness for the elderly, especially for those who have multiple health issues.
We will arrange for Chaplains and Recreation to provide support for you through phone calls and TV programs (channel 10). We will keep you posted on when to watch for updates.
If you have any symptoms (below) that are new to you or getting worse, call the nursing team to receive a swab.
If you have any questions, please call Leonard Klassen, Life Enrichment Coordinator: 604.851.4006
Sincerely,
Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment
| Fever or chills? | Cough? Unproductive cough? |
| Sore throat? | Extreme fatigue or tiredness? |
| Body aches? Muscle aches? | Diarrhea? |
| Difficulty breathing? | Loss of sense of smell or taste? |
| Loss of appetite? | Headache? |
| Nausea or vomiting? |
There are 2 COVID positive residents in Terrace East. As a result, new Public Health Orders are in place for Terrace East that include droplet precautions for residents on the 5th and 6th floors (as well as COVID testing) and no social visits or outings for any residents in Terrace East.
One COVID positive resident was returned from Abbotsford Regional Hospital after receiving a COVID swab but BEFORE they received the results. They found out later that they are COVID positive. This created risk for others (residents and staff) to contract COVID.
As a result, we have created a poster that we will put on every apartment door that tells your loved ones who to call if you need to go to hospital or are discharged from hospital. This includes a short visit to the Emergency Room. We can only ensure COVID protocols are in place if we know that you are returning to your home at Menno Apartments.
The risk of getting COVID in the community has now increased as COVID is spreading in Abbotsford. We strongly recommend that you do not go out unless it is essential for you to do so – like seeing your doctor. This includes re-thinking whether or not you will attend church. If others aren’t wearing masks at church, the risk of contracting COVID increases.
If you do go out, wear a mask at all times. Cover your nose and mouth. Stay 6 feet away from others. Sanitize your hands frequently. The medical masks in the foyer are the best safeguard masks for you and are the best protection for those around you as well. Don’t come to the dining room for meals if you don’t feel well. Call Reception to arrange your meal.
It is also mandatory for you to wear a mask within your apartment building and in your apartment suite if you are with someone else. This is an added layer of protection for you from this very contagious Delta variant of COVID. Vaccine is not 100% protection, but it is the BEST protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death. There are still fully vaccinated individuals contracting COVID and going to intensive care. Of the fully vaccinated in ICU, the majority of them are over 70 years old. This is still a dangerous illness for the elderly, especially for those who have multiple health issues.
We are pleased to remind you that we have a very high percentage of fully vaccinated residents and staff. We are finding in the Menno Home outbreak that the severity of the symptoms is significantly less for those vaccinated than for the unvaccinated. This is very good news. It reminds us, however, that it is essential to report even the mildest of symptoms to the nursing team or to Reception. See below for list of symptoms.
If you are unvaccinated, your risk of contracting COVID is 11 times greater than the vaccinated. Menno Place residents and staff were vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which is 88% effective against symptomatic disease and 96% effective against hospitalization. We did get our vaccine some time ago, so the efficacy of it has decreased. Use ALL your layers of protection! Get vaccinated if you are able to!
If you have any symptoms (below) that are new to you or getting worse, call 604.587.3936 and book a COVID swab test for yourself at 32470 Haida Drive, Abbotsford, BC.
If you are unsure if you should be tested, call the Fraser Health Virtual Care Team at 1-800-314-0999 between 10am and 10pm seven days a week to talk about your situation. Be sure to tell the Receptionist (604.851.4000) or myself if you are going for a COVID swab test.
If you have any questions, please call me,
Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment – 604.851.4020
Do you have any of these COVID symptoms – even mildly? Get tested!
| Fever or chills? | Cough? Unproductive cough? |
| Sore throat? | Extreme fatigue or tiredness? |
| Body aches? Muscle aches? | Diarrhea? |
| Difficulty breathing? | Loss of sense of smell or taste? |
| Loss of appetite? | Headache? |
| Nausea or vomiting? |
Poster:
NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0 residents
TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 (2 residents)
We are working on a system to open essential grocery deliveries for residents of Terrace East and will update you shortly.
Previously reported:
Residents of the 5th and 6th floor of Terrace East are now on droplet precautions.
This means that they are to remain in their apartment suites. All who enter their suites must wear full PPE.
All meals for 5th and 6th floor residents delivered to their suites.
No social visits for any Terrace East residents. No outings or exiting the TE building.
Essential visitors permitted – call Cheryl: 604.851.4020 if you are designated as an Essential Visitor.
Recreation activities temporarily suspended. A memo for residents will be handed out today and published on this site as well.
As we are in a time of high COVID prevalence, it is essential that everyone returning from Hospital (ER or admitted) receives a COVID test and obtains the results PRIOR to returning to Menno Apartments. Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment and her team are able to help residents and families navigate steps that keep residents and staff safe, including communication with Fraser Health.
MANDATORY MASKS FOR RESIDENTS: As a result of this situation, we require all Apartment residents to wear masks (mandatory) when they leave their apartment or when a visitor (IL) is in the apartment with them. It has been several weeks since we announced mandatory masks for all visitors. Medical grade masks are the preferred mask to be worn and are available at the foyer in every apartment for both residents and visitors.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR LOVED ONE IS IN HOSPITAL AND THEN RETURNING HOME: We will be putting a poster on every apartment door that outlines what family should do if their loved one needs to go or return from hospital. As the apartment resident lives in communal living, their return from ARH puts at risk many others if they are COVID positive.
ASK THE DAILY SCREENING QUESTIONS: As COVID prevalence has become greater in our community, it is all the more important to have these daily questions asked to each resident. We are encouraging family members to include these questions in your conversations. Click here for Screening Questions.
NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0
TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = Menno Home: 38 (22 residents / 16 staff) (37/E1: 1/W2)
PASSED AWAY: TODAY = 0 (T = 2 residents on E1)
RECOVERED STAFF = 7 more! (T=10 recovered)
We are happy to report that SEVEN more of the E1 staff have recovered and are back at work! We are so grateful for this team of amazing staff! There are no new COVID positive results to report with either residents or staff for both of these days. Today, 120 doughnuts arrived from another care home to encourage our staff!
As stated earlier, we believe that the W2 staff positive is from an external exposure unrelated to the E1 Home Outbreak.
Thank you for your continued prayers and well-wishes.
September 12, 2021
Dear Staff of Menno Terrace East,
We are writing to notify you that an individual at Menno Terrace East was diagnosed with COVID-19. The Fraser Health COVID-19 Prevention and Control team is working with the facility to identify anyone who may have been exposed and to take steps to protect the health of all residents and staff. Symptoms of COVID-19 may be mild or severe. These may include low grade fever, cough, sneezing, and/or sore throat. More severe symptoms could include fever, difficulty breathing and/or chest pain. Most people will experience mild illness.
This exposure does not mean you are infected with COVID-19. Given the serious health risks of COVID-19 we have instituted enhanced control measures at the facility. We are asking all staff members to self monitor for symptoms. If you develop any symptoms, inform your supervisor, stop working, get tested and self isolate until results are returned as negative and symptoms have resolved (whichever is longer).
Public Health has done an assessment and is requiring all staff who worked in Terrace East between September 8th and 12th to get a COVID swab test immediately. As your test results are not reported directly to Menno Place, please phone staffing and your supervisor with the result of your COVID swab immediately.
We are taking steps to ensure that it is safe for you to continue to work at Menno Terrace East. Fraser Health will be providing infection control support to the facility throughout this time. Residents are being closely monitored for symptoms and standard infection control measures are effective in protecting staff and residents from infection.
Staff will be required to use PPE (eye protection and medical grade masks) during this time regardless of their COVID-19 immunization status. The elderly are at risk of severe outcomes related to COVID-19 and following the guidance is necessary to protect the health of residents.
Your health and the health of your families is important. If you have concerns about the safety of your working environment please raise them with your supervisor.
For general information about COVID-19 call 811, or visit HealthLinkBC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfeature/coronavirus-covid-19.
Sincerely,
Katherine Chan
Public Health Nurse
Fraser Health Public Health
778-368-0123
MEMO
Date: September 12, 2021
To: Terrace East Residents
Re: COVID-19 positive residents in Terrace East
__________________________________________________________________
There are 2 COVID positive residents in Terrace East. As a result, new Public Health Orders are in place.
Residents on floors 5 & 6:
As a result, Public Health has ordered all residents of the 5th and 6th floor to be on droplet precautions. This means that you must remain in your apartment suite. Anyone who enters must wear full personal protective equipment (gown, goggles, mask). This does not mean that you are COVID positive. It is a precaution to help keep you safe. Your meals will be delivered to your apartment suite. All residents will be COVID swabbed on September 13th.
Residents on floors 1 to 4:
For residents living on floors 1-4, you will continue to go to the dining room for your meals. Masks are now mandatory anytime you are with someone in your apartment suite or if you are outside of your apartment suite (hallway, elevator). Keep your social distance and wash hands/sanitize frequently, especially when you return to your apartment.
For all residents in Terrace East:
There are no social visits during this time. You may not let anyone into the building using the enterphone. This includes family, housekeepers, friends or other personal service providers. You may not exit the apartment building to go on any outings, including going to church. No outside walks or visits, including going to the Gazebo or walking the Menno Place pathways. No entering others apartment suites. If you have an urgent medical appointment, please call Cheryl Dawes to make arrangements: 604.851.4020
All Recreation and Chaplain activities are temporarily suspended.
Essential deliveries must be arranged with Reception. Examples of essential items are: incontinence products, hearing aids, medications. There will not be someone at the door at all times, so delivery of these items must be approved through Reception: 604.851.4004.
Essential visitors are people whose visits have been assessed by nursing as essential, primarily those who are visiting a palliative resident. Only essential visitors are permitted to enter and they must arrange every visit with the nurse who will assist them with donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
We do not know when these orders will be lifted. It will be when Public Health is confident that COVID has not spread and that there are no contagious individuals. This is usually a 14-day period, but will be re-evaluated daily. It will be extended if there are any new COVID positive cases.
All residents on floors 5 & 6 as well as all staff who worked from September 8-12 will be COVID swabbed in the first point-prevalence testing. This test provides a baseline so that Public Health can know if or how widely COVID has spread within Terrace East.
We are pleased to remind you that we have a very high percentage of fully vaccinated residents and staff. We are finding in the Menno Home outbreak that the severity of the symptoms is significantly less for those who contract COVID than for the unvaccinated. This is very good news. It reminds us, however, that it is essential to report even the mildest of symptoms to the nursing team or to Reception. See below for list of symptoms.
COVID vaccination is not 100% protection from COVID, but it is the best protection we have against symptoms, hospitalization and death. We are very grateful that so many of you are vaccinated.
If you have any questions, please call me,
Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment – 604.851.4020
Do you have any of these COVID symptoms – even mildly? Tell the nurse.
| Fever or chills? | Cough? Unproductive cough? |
| Sore throat? | Extreme fatigue or tiredness? |
| Body aches? Muscle aches? | Diarrhea? |
| Difficulty breathing? | Loss of sense of smell or taste? |
| Loss of appetite? | Headache? |
| Nausea or vomiting? |
NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 residents
TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 (2 residents)
We are sad to report that there are two COVID positive residents in Terrace East. The first COVID positive resident returned from a visit to Abbotsford Regional Hospital having had a COVID swab but without receiving the result of that swab. The resident was discharged and returned by family to Terrace East. Unfortunately, the result came back positive and additional residents and staff were exposed to COVID. Consequently, a second resident has tested positive. Families have been informed.
Residents of the 5th and 6th floor of Terrace East are now on droplet precautions.
This means that they are to remain in their apartment suites. All who enter their suites must wear full PPE.
All meals for 5th and 6th floor residents delivered to their suites.
No social visits for any Terrace East residents. No outings or exiting the TE building.
Essential visitors permitted – call Cheryl: 604.851.4020 if you are designated as an Essential Visitor.
Recreation activities temporarily suspended. A memo for residents will be handed out today and published on this site as well.
As we are in a time of high COVID prevalence, it is essential that everyone returning from Hospital (ER or admitted) receives a COVID test and obtains the results PRIOR to returning to Menno Apartments. Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment and her team are able to help residents and families navigate steps that keep residents and staff safe, including communication with Fraser Health.
MANDATORY MASKS FOR RESIDENTS: As a result of this situation, we require all Apartment residents to wear masks (mandatory) when they leave their apartment or when a visitor (IL) is in the apartment with them. It has been several weeks since we announced mandatory masks for all visitors. Medical grade masks are the preferred mask to be worn and are available at the foyer in every apartment for both residents and visitors.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR LOVED ONE IS IN HOSPITAL AND THEN RETURNING HOME: We will be putting a poster on every apartment door that outlines what family should do if their loved one needs to go or return from hospital. As the apartment resident lives in communal living, their return from ARH puts at risk many others if they are COVID positive.
ASK THE DAILY SCREENING QUESTIONS: As COVID prevalence has become greater in our community, it is all the more important to have these daily questions asked to each resident. We are encouraging family members to include these questions in your conversations. Click here for Screening Questions.
NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1(0 residents / 1 staff)
TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (0 residents/ 1 staff)
TOTAL NEW SYMPTOMATIC = 0 (0 resident / 0 staff)
Dear Tenants and Families of Menno Terrace,
We are writing to notify you that someone at Menno Terrace was diagnosed with COVID-19. The Fraser Health COVID-19 Public Health team is working with the staff at the home to identify anyone who may have been exposed and to take steps to protect the health of all tenants and staff. Our Medical Health Officer has not declared a COVID-19 outbreak at this time.
This exposure does not mean you/your famly member is sick with COVID-19. Tenants and staff will be screened twice-daily for any signs of illness. Those who develop symptoms will be isolated, tested for COVID-19 and provided the care they need.
The health and safety of tenants and staff is our first priority and a responsibility we take very seriously. To date, as part of our proactive management, Fraser Health has worked to ensure enhanced measures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at this home.
Your loved one may be required to isolate based on their exposure and COVID-19 vaccination status. We know that staying away from your loved one is very difficult and we appreciate your cooperation with the goal of keeping residents, staff and medical staff healthy. At this time there are no residents in isolation. Visits continue with screening by the Visitation Hosts.
Staff at this home will continue to provide care and services to you to enhance your safety and well-being while maintaining routines where it is safe to do so. We will also keep you up-to-date if there are any changes related to your family member’s health status.
For general information about COVID-19, call 8-1-1, or visit HealthLinkBC:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/coronavirus-covid-19.
If you have further questions, please contact Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment, Tel. No. 604-851-4020
Effective immediately, we have ended the Registered Visitor program at Pavilion, Terrace West and Primrose Gardens.
Since March 2020, the Registered Visitor program has successfully provided support to the 250 residents of these apartments during a global pandemic. There have been NO instances of COVID exposure by visitors through this program. This effective program has kept our residents safe from this deadly virus that is most dangerous for those over 80 years old, particularly those with multiple health issues. It is with incredible gratitude that we retire this effective safety support program.
The Independent Living Apartments residents and their visitors will now be expected to follow the BC Restart Plan:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restartRecreation, spiritual and social activities for Independent Living residents will follow this plan as well. As you know, the plan will move forward in four steps under the direction of BC’s public health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry. These steps are dependent on: the percentage of vaccinated individuals over 18 years of age, number of COVID cases, number of hospitalizations.
Residents in these three apartment buildings will be receiving a memo today notifying them of this change.
We expect visitors to continue their vigilance in Infection Control Protocols, including mask-wearing in the building, hand-hygiene and social distancing. Please go directly to and from your loved one’s apartment suite and do not move around the apartment building. At this time, we have not opened the guest suites or guests to join in meals.
We anticipate that the 2nd dose vaccination clinic for Primrose Gardens and Pavilion residents will take place the last week of June. We will keep you posted on this. Terrace West has already had the 2nd dose vaccination clinic as they are in physical proximity to our Assisted Living apartment, Terrace East. If you wish to register your loved one through the BC Vaccination Registration, you may do that as well: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register
It is with gratitude that we thank the individuals who are responsible for the effective Registered Visitor program – thank you to Nik Van Egdom, Brenda Mertke and Leonard Klassen for implementing this plan to keep our residents safe. Thank you to Cheryl Dawes and Sharon Simpson for creating and implementing this program early into the pandemic. We know that there have been many sleepless nights, particularly at the beginning of the pandemic and recently as community prevalence / variants became a concern. We have prayed that COVID would not enter nor spread in our apartment buildings. With the layers of protection, including social distancing, mask-wearing and vaccination practiced throughout our community, we are grateful that we can end this program.
Thank you to God for His protection, to the residents for their endurance and vigilance during this time, to the families for your care and diligence, to the staff for your faithful practices of infection prevention and to the team who made this amazing safety program possible.
We have been waiting for a change that moves us back to “normal” and this is the first step in that direction. It’s a good day for us all! Please continue to be safe!
Please send any words of encouragement or gratitude to the Menno Place team to Sharon.Simpson@Mennoplace.ca. They will be passed along to these amazing staff!
What about Terrace East Assisted Living Apartments? We have not, yet, heard any update in protocols from Fraser Health. We will post them when we are made aware. Until then, we continue with social visits for families.
