October 28, 2024- Whole-Home Respiratory Outbreak Update

In collaboration with Public Health, a Home-wide outbreak was declared on October 21, 2024. Residents have symptoms such as cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, and/or hoarse voice. We currently have four (4) impacted home areas, please see below. Cedar now has one (1) case and therefore masking is being recommended in this home area as well. We received results from testing with Public Health, and both COVID-19 and Rhinovirus have been detected as causative agents for the outbreaks. 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 Maple, Birch, Spruce, Cedar, and Oak Home Areas (Masks are recommended for all 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 Maple, Birch, Spruce, 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 disinfecting product to 1-minute contact time
• Increased hand hygiene and PPE audits in the home area with coaching
• Limit of two (2) essential caregivers at a time in the Entire Home
• No General Visitors to the Entire Home

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 Registered Nurse or Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead at stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca