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Five COVID outbreaks declared at Victoria, Nanaimo long-term care homes

The majority infected are staff and outbreaks are restricted to one floor or unit
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The Eden Gardens care home in Nanaimo is among five Island facilities where new COVID-19 outbreaks were announced by Island Health on Wednesday morning (Jan. 5). (Black Press Media file photo)

COVID-19 outbreaks have been declared among residents and staff in care homes across Victoria and Nanaimo.

Five outbreaks were reported, at Aberdeen Hospital, Glenwarren Lodge and Selkirk Senior Village long-term care homes in Victoria, and Kiwanis Village Lodge and Eden Gardens long-term care homes in Nanaimo.

Island Health reported Wednesday morning that the Aberdeen outbreak is limited to three residents and two staff in its Lansdowne Unit; the Glenwarren outbreak including five residents and seven staff is restricted to the first floor; Selkirk’s outbreak, including infections of one resident and six staff, is restricted to the third floor; the Kiwanis Village outbreak including one resident and three staff is restricted to the first floor, and the outbreak at Eden Gardens of one resident and three staff infections is restricted to the second floor.

At each care home, Island Health said no transfers are being made or group activities allowed in affected units, staff movements are being limited wherever possible, and COVID-19 tests are being distributed “as determined by the Medical Health Officer and Infection Prevention and Control,” according to their press release.

Only essential visitors are allowed to Island Health care homes according to provincial health policy, said communications officer Andrew Leyne. Those essential visitors are still being allowed at long-term care homes facing outbreaks.

READ ALSO: B.C. restricts long-term care to essential visitors only

The five-outbreak announcement is the latest of several reports from long-term care homes across Vancouver Island and Greater Victoria. Three Shannon Oaks residents in Oak Bay are reportedly recovering well after testing positive on Jan. 2. The trio had been triple vaccinated and faced only minor symptoms.

READ ALSO: Oak Bay retirement home confirms 3 cases of COVID-19 among residents

“We’re thankful it’s been really mild,” said Shannon Oaks administrator Craig Reed.


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