COVID-19 outbreak at Pinecrest Nursing Home officially over
The COVID-19 outbreak at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon has been declared over.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit confirmed Thursday morning that the hard-hit long-termcare home was free of the coronavirus.
Pinecrest’s outbreak was one of the first and most severe as COVID-19 spread through Ontario in March.
Twenty-nine residents of the 65-bed facility died, along with the wife of a resident, while 24 staff tested positive.
The news does not mean the home will reopen to visitors.
“Despite today’s positive news, all ongoing infection control and prevention measures will remain in place to ensure the continued health and safety of our residents and staff,” administrator Mary Carr wrote in an email to family and the public.
“The home will remain closed to non-essential visitors, and meals will continue to be served to residents in their rooms. We’ll continue our daily screening procedures, and residents will be asked to remain in their rooms unless out for walks,” she wrote.
“We are continuing to deepclean all resident areas in the building thanks to the support of Ross Memorial Hospital’s Environmental Services team and asking our staff to continue to wear full PPE during this process.”
Fleming student aid
Fleming College has distributed $415,000 to 1,200 students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aid includes funding for online learning, transportation, food and rent. Funds came from a combination of private contributions and government funds.
The college issued cheques to students on May 1.
Lakefield Homecoming
The Lakefield Homecoming event planned for Aug. 7-9 has been cancelled.
The event, which was to include waterfront activities, tours, a car show, a dance and more, will happen in August 2021.
“This decision is based on critical input from Peterborough Public Health as they look for direction from the province on how and when things can resume,” states a release from organizers.
“While the province is carefully starting to reopen some businesses and parks, these reopenings are based on the ability to limit close contact and create conditions where enhanced sanitation can occur.”