Archive for category: COVID-19 Update

COVID UPDATE – September 14, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak

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:

MEMO

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

 

 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?

 

 

COVID UPDATE – September 13 & 14, 2021 – Terrace East

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.

1. INFORM MENNO PLACE OF HOSPITAL VISIT TO ER OR HOSPITAL ADMISSION – If your loved one goes to Hospital for any length of time (ER or Admitted), you must call our nursing team to inform them – Nursing Team: 604.615.7652.
2. INFORM MENNO PLACE OF REQUESTED RETURN FROM HOSPITAL: Additionally, Cheryl and her team will provide the support you need to ensure that your loved one does not return to Menno Apartments with a COVID positive result. Do not discharge them or return from ER without the results of the COVID test. If they are COVID positive, Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment and her team will provide the support you need to navigate this situation while keeping others safe.
3. KEEPING OTHERS SAFE: The protocols for a COVID positive resident include isolation in their room and full PPE (personal protective equipment) for the staff. It also includes enhanced cleaning of any objects touched by a COVID positive individual (railings, door handles, elevator buttons). If we don’t know about your loved one’s test result or pending test result, we can’t do everything required to keep other residents and staff safe.

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.

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