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No evidence of more COVID-19 cases at Orillia long-term care home: health unit

After Spencer House worker tested positive, long-term care facilities in region are on 'high alert,' region's top doc says
spencer house orillia
Spencer House, Orillia

While there is no evidence of further cases of COVID-19 at an Orillia long-term care home, such facilities in the region are on “high alert,” says Dr. Charles Gardner.

During a media briefing Thursday, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s medical officer of health said the agency is “putting a lot of attention into our long-term care facilities.”

It was revealed Wednesday that someone who works at Spencer House, on West Ridge Boulevard, had tested positive for COVID-19. Asked how long the employee was infectious while working at the facility, Gardner said, “more than a day, less than a week.”

He could not say how many residents were in contact with the worker while he or she was infectious or if the worker was aware he or she was infectious at the time.

“We’re monitoring that situation very closely,” Gardner said. “We have no evidence that others have contracted it at this time.”

When contacted by OrilliaMatters, Spencer House executive director Traci Van Grinsven directed a reporter to media relations at Sienna Living, which operates Spencer House.

Sienna Living did not directly answer a number of the questions posed, but provided the following statement:

“On April 1st, we were informed by Public Health that a team member from Spencer House Care Community (Orillia, ON) tested positive for COVID-19. Precautionary measures were in place prior to the test results being received and additional directives from Public Health are being implemented.

“The team at Spencer House is doing a tremendous job in managing this – they are highly skilled in infection control practice and are working closely with public health, who have confirmed that all proper precautions and directives are in place, including:

Vigilant health monitoring of all residents.

No non-essential visitors and contractors to the residence.

Active screening at the entrance including temperature checks.

Physical distancing of residents.

Residents are restricted from leaving the residence other than for critical treatment such as dialysis.

Anyone returning or moving in from hospital or the community will be in isolation for 14 days.

“The team is doing truly extraordinary work to serve, care for and support residents at this difficult time. We are grateful for the support of families, residents and public health.”


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Nathan Taylor

About the Author: Nathan Taylor

Nathan Taylor is the desk editor for Village Media's central Ontario news desk in Simcoe County and Newmarket.
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