January 6, 2025- Spruce Outbreak Update

In collaboration with Public Health, the Spruce home area remains in a gastroenteritis outbreak. We currently have (2) two 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 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 at stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca