December 14, 2024- Cedar and Oak Outbreak Update

In collaboration with Public Health, the OAK Home Area remains in a Respiratory Outbreak with symptoms such as cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, and/or sore throat or both. Family members of those residents affected have been notified.

In collaboration with Public Health, the CEDAR Home area remains in a Gastroenteritis Outbreak with symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarrhea. Family members of those residents affected have been notified.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented:

• Surgical Masks to be worn in the Cedar and Oak Home Areas
• 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 Cedar and Oak Home Areas
• 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 the disinfecting product to 1-minute contact time
• 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 in the Oak and Cedar Home Areas

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 reach out to the nurse in charge or Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead - stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca