Birch Home Area Outbreak Update, August 8, 2024

The Birch Home Area is in a COVID Outbreak with four (4) symptomatic resident cases. The team added two (2) cases in the last 24 hours of residents showing symptoms, but not testing positive currently. Further testing is taking place through Public Health today and we will send an update once we receive results. Family members of those residents affected have been notified.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented:

• Surgical Masks or N95 Masks to be worn in the Birch Home Area
• N95 Masks in those resident rooms that are isolated- see specific isolation signage
• Limit of two (2) essential caregivers at a time in Birch Home Area only
• No General Visitors to Birch Home Area
• Ensure the Public Health 4 moments of Hand Hygiene are followed
• Resident's Hand Hygiene before all meals and regularly throughout the day
• Ensure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used properly- including donning before entering and removing before exiting the isolated resident’s room
• Residents are to remain in the affected home area at this time to reduce the risk of spread
• *If residents insist on leaving the home area, please assist them with masking or a visor and encourage outdoor visiting.
• Twice daily respiratory symptom screening in Birch Home Area
• Immediate isolation of any residents with new symptom onset
• Cohorting of staff, when possible.
• Cohorting of residents and only small group activities in the home area for unaffected residents. Isolated residents to receive one-to-one activities.
• Twice daily high-touch surface cleaning- changing disinfecting product to 1-minute contact time

Please ensure that you are following the IPAC practices listed above as they are in place to protect residents, staff, essential caregivers, and visitors.

We will continue to provide updates as we move through the outbreak.

If you have any questions, please contact a Nursing Manager, Jen C or Kim.