Birch Home Area Outbreak Update, January 29, 2025

The Birch home area remains in a gastroenteritis outbreak. We currently have (3) three residents with symptoms of vomiting and/or diarrhea. Family members of those affected have been notified.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented:

• Surgical Masks are highly recommended in the 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.
• 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 and contains sporicidal
• Increased hand hygiene and PPE audits in the home area with coaching
• No General Visitors at this time. Only two (2) essential caregivers at a time

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

If you have questions, please reach out to the Nurse in Charge or Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead at stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca