ABOYNE – A COVID-19 outbreak has now been officially declared at the Wellington Terrace Long-Term Care Home here.
In a Dec. 15 press release, Wellington County, which operates the facility, noted two areas of the home – the Birch and Cedar “neighbourhoods” – are now under outbreak protocols.
A staff member in the Cedar neighbourhood has tested positive for the virus and is isolating at home with mild symptoms, officials say. The employee last worked on Dec. 14.
“Wellington Terrace staff immediately responded to the situation with direction from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) to limit further transmission of the virus,” states the press release.
“All families of Wellington Terrace residents have been notified of the situation.”
Officials say this case is not related to a staff member who received an inconclusive result from a Dec. 9 test.
That employee has since tested negative for COVID-19, county officials say, but is experiencing mild symptoms, so outbreak protocols remain in place in the second area of the facility as a precaution.
“Wellington Terrace continues to follow extensive infection control processes that follow Ministry of Health directives and are guided by [WDGPH],” stated Wellington Terrace administrator Suzanne Dronick.
“We will continue to work closely with public health to protect our residents and staff. We wish both staff members an expedient recovery.”
All Wellington Terrace employees are tested every seven days as per Ministry of Health directives, officials say, and residents showing “even the slightest evidence of a health change” are “immediately tested for COVID-19.”
“Protecting our most vulnerable population remains our top priority,” stated Wellington County Warden Kelly Linton.
The Wellington Terrace outbreak is one of seven current COVID-19 outbreaks at facilities in the WDGPH region. The others are:
- Caressant Care Long-Term Care facility in Arthur, one staff case, declared on Dec. 12;
- Stone Lodge Retirement Residence in Guelph, one resident case and three staff cases, declared on Dec. 7;
- St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Guelph, two staff cases in the long-term care home, declared on Dec. 7;
- Shelburne Residence, one staff case, declared on Dec. 7;
- Chartwell Wellington Park in Guelph, one staff case, declared on Dec. 7; and
- Headwaters Health Care Centre (‘F’ Wing) in Orangeville, four patient cases and four staff cases, declared on Dec. 7.
On Dec. 15 a COVID-19 outbreak was declared over at Caressant Care Long-Term Care facility in Harriston, where one staff case was reported on Dec. 7.
An outbreak is defined by public health officials as one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19.
An outbreak is declared over 14 days after symptoms began in the most recent case and when no other cases are suspect.
