COVID-19 Update – TWO COVID Positive Residents in Menno Home E2

Menno Place Staff Memo – WEDNESDAY, NOV 18, 2020

Nov 18 – A second COVID positive resident was confirmed today – Menno Home E2
Total COVID Positive Residents – 2
Total COVID Postive Staff – 0

The families of the COVID positive residents have been notified.
We are waiting for swab results for the rest of the residents and staff.

ONE COVID positive resident – Menno Home E2

Nov 17 – On November 17th, a COVID-19 positive result came back for one (1) resident in Menno Home E2. 
All of the Menno Home E2 staff and residents will be swabbed (tested) for COVID-19.

What if you were in the E2 Menno Home unit but don’t exclusively work there?
If you have been on E2 Menno Home in the past 3 days, you need to be swabbed. Please call Smitha Varghese, DOC, Menno Hospital (604.851.1337) to indicate that you need a swab done.

What are we doing?

  • We are awaiting further instruction from the Medical Health Officer and our Medical Director, Dr. Ken Dueck, and will keep you informed.
  • We are phoning all of the primary contacts of the E2 Menno Home residents so that those families are aware of the situation first
  • We have put up appropriate signage to inform staff that only E2 Menno Home staff may enter that unit
  • We are swabbing all E2 Menno Home staff for COVID
  • We are swabbing all residents on E2 Menno Home
  • We are letting you know that we have enough stock of PPE to keep you safe.
  • We have cancelled all essential and social visits on E2 Home
  • We have distributed Infection Control Carts, garbage cans and PPE to E2 Home
  • We are restricting staff to only work on East 2 Home if they work there
  • We are implementing our Covid Response Plan
  • We are meeting daily to decide next steps
  • We are closing fire doors on the unit to try and contain any spread
  • We are putting red laundry bags on East 2 Home

What do you need to do?

  • Continue to provide loving and skilled care for the residents
  • Continue your vigilance with infection control protocols – masks at all times except when eating, goggles, hand hygiene, physical distancing
  • Do not go from one unit to another or one building to another – ask your Supervisor for guidance if your work tasks require this movement (eg: Maintenance)
  • Do not come to work if you show any signs of Covid, do your screening when you arrive and part way through your shift
  • Make plans at home in case you have to self-isolate away from your family members

What will we do next?

  • We will await instruction from the Medical Health Officer
  • We will follow our COVID-19 Response Plan
  • We will continue to practice vigilant infection control protocols
  • We will keep you informed through email and through our website – www.MennoPlaceStaff.com
  • Following communication with E2 Menno Home families, we will communicate with all families who have loved ones living at Menno Place

From the CEO, Karen Biggs
“Unfortunately I can’t be on site with your right now as my husband is Covid positive and I have had to self-isolate as I was with him all last week during his radiation treatments. I am very proud of how well you have all done during this pandemic. We are in this together. Together we can do this. I and the Leadership Team are confident in the strength of our each of you. Together we have protected our seniors and campus for 8 long months!  Please continue to be kind, be calm and be safe. With the Lord’s help, we will get through this together.”