November 23, 2024- Respiratory Outbreak Declared Spruce Home Area

In collaboration with Public Health, the spruce Home Area has declared a Respiratory outbreak with five (5) residents with symptoms such as cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, and/or sore throat. 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 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.
Twice daily respiratory symptom screening in Spruce 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
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.

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.