January 10, 2025- Spruce Home Area Outbreak Update

In collaboration with Public Health, the Spruce home area remains in a gastroenteritis outbreak. No residents are isolated at this time, but due to incubation periods, we remain in an outbreak status. Family members of those affected have been notified.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented:

• Surgical Masks are highly recommended in the Spruce 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
• Dedicated equipment for those residents that share bathrooms.
• 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 connect with the Charge Nurse or Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca