The worst COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care facility currently in B.C. continues to devastate.
Fraser Health has confirmed to the NOW there have been 13 deaths at Burnaby's Willingdon Care Centre, where an outbreak was declared on Sept. 27, 2021.
A total of 105 lab-confirmed cases have been reported to date involving 80 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.
At an Oct. 14 news conference, B.C. health minister Adrian Dix said the ongoing outbreak is the "most significant."
"Willingdon is currently, by a significant margin, our most significant outbreak," Dix said.
In an emailed statement, Fraser Health says they have 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
"Our condolences go out to those who’ve lost loved ones at Willingdon Care Centre, and throughout the pandemic," the authority added.
There are currently 22 active long-term care outbreaks across the province, including:
Long-term care
- Willingdon Care Centre - Fraser Health
- Westminster House - Fraser Health
- Magnolia Gardens - Fraser Health
- Manoah Manor - Fraser Health
- Cherington Place - Fraser Health
- West Shore Laylum - Fraser Health
- Queens Park Care Centre - Fraser Health
- Heritage Village - Fraser Health
- Amica Lions Gate - Vancouver Coastal Health
- Cottonwoods Care Centre - Interior Health
- Overlander - Interior Health
- Village by the Station - Interior Health
- Haven Hill Retirement Centre - Interior Health
- Wrinch Memorial Hospital - Northern Health
Acute care
- Mission Memorial Hospital - Fraser Health
- University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) - Northern Health
- G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital - Northern Health
- Tofino General Hospital - Island Health
Assisted or independent living
- Sunset Manor - Fraser Health
- Evergreen Manor - Fraser Health
- Terrace West - Fraser Health
- Cooper Place - Vancouver Coastal Health
