September 2, 2021 – MENNO HOME E1 – OUTBREAK – New COVID positive – 20 residents, 1 staff (Total=25)

September 2, 2021/in COVID-19 Update

COVID UPDATE – September 2, 2021 – Home E1

HOME E1 DECLARED OUTBREAK

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 18 residents, 3 staff

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 25 (20 residents / 5 staff)

This morning, the swabs for the residents and staff from Menno Home E1 Chalet came back with 20 residents and 3 staff testing positive for COVID-19. Families have been notified. Swab results for Menno Home E1 Lounge have not been returned. See map (below)

Dr. Ken Dueck, our Medical Director, reminded us that this is an entirely different outbreak than the one we experienced before the COVID vaccine was available. Two residents had mild symptoms and were found to be COVID positive on August 31st. This put into motion the testing of all other residents and staff who were in close contact with the residents. The rest of the residents who are now found to be COVID positive were not exhibiting symptoms that would warrant a COVID test.

This is a significant difference as pre-vaccine transmission caused significant symptoms and 14 of our residents lost their lives as a result. We are grateful for the significant reduction of symptoms for our fully vaccinated residents and staff. The vaccine does not completely prevent an individual from becoming COVID positive, but vastly reduces the symptoms.

Visitors:

Essential Visitors are permitted to visit residents on Home E1 with full PPE.

Social visits are not permitted.

Staff are cohorted to work only on their specific unit within Menno Home and may not move from unit to unit.

Menno Home E1 – Map

Orange = Lounge side of Home E1

Red = Chalet side of Home E1

September 1, 2021 – MENNO HOME E1 – New COVID positive – 2 residents (Total=4)

September 1, 2021/in COVID-19 Update

COVID UPDATE – September 1, 2021 – Home E1

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 4 (2 resident/ 2 staff)

Two residents are confirmed COVID positive. Families of residents have been notified of the COVID positive test and the COVID exposure in E1 Menno Home.

Public Health has ordered that Menno Home E1 be on Droplet Precautions.

Healthcare workers are required to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) before entering the room of a resident. They are trained on the correct use of how to don and doff (put on and remove) PPE. Wearing appropriate PPE when in proximity to a resident (regardless of COVID diagnosis) provides an additional layer of protection for the staff and reduces the possibility of transmission of COVID from one resident to another.

Fraser Health Letter to Staff: Menno Home E1 Covid Exposure

September 1, 2021/in COVID-19 Update, HOME

September 1st, 2021

Dear Staff of Menno Home,

We are writing to notify you that an individual at Menno Home was diagnosed with COVID-19. The COVID-19 Prevention team in Fraser Health 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.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. It can spread through droplets when a person coughs or sneezes, or by touching the virus with your hands then touching your face before washing your hands. 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 outbreak control measures at the facility. We are asking all staff members at Menno Home self- monitor for symptoms until the outbreak is declared over. 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).

If you are a Fraser Health employee and had a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) breach while working at the facility, please report the breach to Workplace Health at 1-866-922-9464 option #2.

Public Health will do a risk assessment, and based on the situation, may recommend that you get tested for COVID-19. Please await direction from Public Health before going for testing if you do not have symptoms.

We are taking steps to ensure that it is safe for you to continue to work at Menno Home. 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.

It is critical that you do not work in any other health care settings. The elderly are most at risk of severe outcomes related to COVID-19 and these steps are necessary to protect the health of residents living in other facilities.

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 manager, your union representative, or WorkSafeBC.

For general information about COVID-19, call 811, or visit HealthLinkBC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/coronavirus-covid-19.

Sincerely,
Conic Cheung
Case Investigator
Fraser Health Public Health
778.368.0123

PDF of Letter – CLICK HERE

How to Set up a Mobile BC Services Card – Keep your Immunization on your phone!

September 1, 2021/in COVID-19 Update

Set up a Mobile BC Services Card

Are you wondering how you will provide proof of immunization if required?

Click HERE for instructions on how to set up your BC Services Card on your phone.

Steps to take if your COVID rapid test is positive.

September 1, 2021/in COVID-19 Update, Unvaccinated Staff

If a rapid test for an unvaccinated staff member is positive, the unvaccinated staff member must:

notify Menno Place (supervisor / staffing)
leave the building as soon as it is operationally safe to do so,
arrange to have a PCR test as soon as possible – Call 604.587.3936 – 32470 Haida Drive, Abbotsford, BC
advise Menno Place (supervisor / staffing) of the result of the PCR test;
and not return to Menno Place unless the result of the PCR test is negative

If the PCR test result is positive:

10 days have passed from the time of the positive rapid test, or
the staff member’s return has been approved by the medical health officerA

A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for COVID-19 is a test used to diagnosis people who are currently infected with SARS-CoV-2, which is the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The test is a nose swab and is the most accurate and reliable test for diagnosing COVID-19. The PHO requires this test to be administered by a publicly funded program or a publicly paid health care provider.

AUGUST 31, 2021 – MENNO HOME E1 – Covid Positive -T = 2 staff

August 31, 2021/in COVID-19 Update

COVID UPDATE – August 31, 2021 – Home E1

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 (0 resident/ 2 staff)

We are sad to report that there was a COVID positive exposure at Menno Home E1. Two staff are COVID positive.

Public Health has ordered that Menno Home E1 be on Enhanced Monitoring

What is Enhanced Monitoring?

When there is a low risk case of COVID with no evidence of transmission at a site (i.e. a COVID-19 exposure), an outbreak will not be declared and the facility will be placed on enhanced monitoring. This entails specific measures such as actively screening residents/tenants and staff to identify any further cases, testing/isolation of all those who are symptomatic;

Residents/Tenants cared for by an affected staff member placed on isolation/droplet precautions
Stop all all communal / group activities on the affected unit
Tray service for all residents/tenant’s meals on the affected unit
Stop all social visitation to the affected unit
Only fully vaccinated residents to move into the unit
PPE, hand hygiene and environmental audits twice / week
These measures can be modified at the discretion of the Medical Health Officer
Staff to cohort only to E1
Residents and staff who were in close contact with the positive staff will be swabbed for COVID – all primary contacts of residents will be contacted
If there is no COVID spread and all other aspects go well, the earliest the unit can come off Enhanced Monitoring is September 13th.

Masks Required Immediately for all staff and visitors in all Menno Place Buildings

August 31, 2021/in COVID-19 Update

Masks for All Staff

Effective immediately, all persons (regardless of vaccination status) working at Menno Place must wear a medical mask at all times, including in common areas and break rooms unless eating and/or drinking.

Goggles for Staff

Health Care Workers are no longer required to wear eye protection for every resident interaction; instead, they should conduct a point-of-care-risk assessment and use the appropriate eye protection and any additional precautions where indicated.

Unvaccinated Staff

Must maintain a two metre distance from others at all times when eating food and in break rooms.

Visitors

All visitors, regardless of their immunization status, must wear a medical mask.

Fully immunized visitors may take their mask off when with their loved one alone.