Fraser Health has declared the tragic COVID-19 outbreak at Willingdon Care Centre over.
Fraser Health confirmed to the NOW, as of Tuesday (Nov. 2), 15 lives were lost to the virus during the outbreak declared on Sept. 27, 2021.
The outbreak was declared officially over today (Nov. 3).
The health authority also confirmed 106 cases were detected, which involved 81 residents and 25 staff.
Fraser Health issued the alert for the facility (Cedar Lane and Birch Lane) on Sept. 27, saying one case involving a resident had been identified which prompted enhanced control measures to be put in place.
In a statement on Oct. 19, Fraser Health said it's implemented the following measures at Willingdon Care Centre:
- Staffing levels are being supported to maintain resident care
- Social visits are restricted in the affected areas of the facility
- Essential visits can continue
- Staff and residents movement in the affected areas of the facility has been modified to minimize exposure to others
- Cleaning and infection control measures have been further enhanced
- Twice-a-day screening of all staff and residents is taking place
- Testing and screening is in place to support monitoring of disease control (including symptomatic and asymptomatic testing of all residents and staff)
- Fraser Health has additional presence at the site to take any further actions required and support the facility. This includes dedicated people to address quality, answer questions from staff, residents and family, and provide active checks of symptoms with staff and residents
- Deployed care staff and our rapid-response teams which include clinical nurse educators, infection prevention and control experts, screeners, and patient care quality officers supporting with communication to families and assessing symptoms at sites with outbreaks
- The site is connected with emergency supplies and support strategies around additional personnel if needed
- Provided air scrubbers to assist with ventilation. These devices help to improve air quality within sites
COVID-19 outbreaks are also affecting three other Burnaby care facilities including the Swedish Assisted Living Residence, the Rideau Retirement Residence and Cascade Gardens Seniors Community.
