September 14, 2021 – TERRACE EAST NOW ON OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 1 (T=3) – Menno Place Team

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.

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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?