COVID Outbreak Declared Birch Home Area, August 7, 2024

In collaboration with Public Health, the Birch Home Area has declared a COVID outbreak with two (2) residents with symptoms and testing positive. 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 the Birch Home Area
• Ensure the Public Health 4 moments of Hand Hygiene are followed
• 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, Jennifer Carriere, ADOC or Kim Sander, DOC

jennifer.carriere@muskoka.on.ca

kimberly.sander@muskoka.on.ca