Extendicare Kapuskasing – Media Update - Feb 8, 2021

February 8, 2021

EXTENDICARE KAPUSKASING – MEDIA UPDATE

As of 11:00am on Monday February 8, we have no new cases to report among our residents or care team. We continue to have 14 active cases among our staff, all of whom are in self-isolation. Working with public health, we resolved an additional three residents’ cases today, meaning they tested positive more than 14 days ago and are no longer infectious.

In total, we have 19 residents with active cases of COVID-19 in our home. All residents continue to isolate in their rooms, where they are being provided with meals and individual care and support.

STAFFING

Our staffing levels remain stable. In addition to those who have joined our care team recently, including members of Ontario Health’s Mobile Enhancement and Support Team, we will continue to recruit additional staff to help us provide enhanced care for our residents. A new social worker has joined us today, dedicated to enhancing communication with families during this difficult time, as well as an additional Registered Nurse on site to assist with resident care.

ONGOING HEALTH SYSTEM PARTNER COLLABORATION

The home continues to meet daily with the Porcupine Health Unit, Sensenbrenner Hospital, Ontario Health, our Local Health Integration Network team and the Ministry of Long-Term Care. All parties are working together to respond to the outbreak and ensure enhanced levels of care.

All infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices advised by public health continue to be closely followed and regularly audited by both our team and our health partners on site.

We are working with the team from Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) to bolster our existing infection control practices, including ongoing education and training of our environmental/cleaning staff and deep cleaning of resident rooms. We remain thankful the TADH team is onsite, lending their direct expertise in this regard. We continue with audits on all shifts, and with screening of everyone coming into our home at our front entrance.

VACCINATION UPDATE

Seven more residents were vaccinated yesterday, for a total of 29 residents who have now received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Four of our staff members were also vaccinated yesterday. This is very encouraging news for all of us. We will work with the Porcupine Health Unit to provide vaccines to additional residents as their cases resolve, and to our team members as further vaccine supply is made available.

For more information, please contact:

Laura Gallant

Extendicare Communications

media@extendicare.com