WELLINGTON COUNTY – Public health officials are reminding residents of recent changes at long-term care homes to help protect residents during the second wave of COVID-19.
“Our long-term care and retirement homes are important, supportive environments and we must do all we can to support them,” states an Oct. 20 press release from Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH).
“In providing these new directions, my goal is to protect one of our most vulnerable populations by limiting exposure to COVID-19 as much as possible while ensuring residents can still access essential services in the community, get the care they need from families and caregivers and maintain emotional and physical wellbeing.”
Last week, public health informed long-term care operators of the following protocols:
- visits restricted to one general visitor and one essential visitor per resident at a time;
- fewer trips outside the home for residents, with a focus on medical appointments, “compassionate situations” and other essential trips;
- virtual facility tours only; and
- limiting social activities to ensure adherence to physical distancing, infection control measures, enhanced cleaning and face coverings for residents and staff.
WDGPH officials say they will continue providing “targeted advice to address the second wave of COVID-19, balancing stopping the spread of the virus with keeping our region as open as possible.”
