Virus variant feared in new cluster
Second care home in Simcoe-Muskoka region dealing with new strain
A person in “close contact” to someone at a nursing home in Bradford West Gwillimbury has tested positive for the variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the U.K., raising fears of a second long-term-care facility outbreak of the fast-spreading variant in the Simcoe-Muskoka region.
Officials declined to disclose Sunday if it was a worker or a resident at the home who had contact with the person who tested positive for the variant.
The news comes as Roberta Place, a long-term-care home in Barrie battling an outbreak of the variant, reported seven more deaths among residents as well as the death of an essential caregiver.
To date, 40 residents have died at the home. There have been 127 COVID-19 cases among residents, 86 cases among staff, and two among essential caregivers, according to Dr. Charles Gardner, the medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health unit.
The health unit is now investigating whether an outbreak at Bradford Valley Care Community is due to the U.K. variant, Gardner confirmed in a virtual press conference Sunday. “It’s important for people to take to heart the very real possibility that (the variant is) circulating in the community right now — if not from this cluster, then from other sources,” he said.
Gardner noted that other cases of the U.K. variant in the province have not been linked to travel or other sources. He encouraged people to act as though the variant is already spreading in the community.
A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at the Bradford Valley Care Community on Jan. 14. As of Sunday, six of 230 residents and three of its 260 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. Whether any of those cases are of the variant is not yet confirmed, Gardner said.
The health unit announced it is investigating all other connections to the latest individual who tested positive for the variant, including a curbside-only retail setting.
Gardner said the retail setting is in Simcoe County, but declined to confirm if it is in Bradford, citing concerns of identifying the individual.
However, he added that two additional COVID-19 cases are connected to the retail location and that the person whose test detected the U.K. variant “has worked” at the location.
This person did not get tested as part of a systematic response, Gardner said. In fact, the finding was “fortuitous.”
It appears the laboratory that tested the individual for COVID-19 undertook the testing for the variant, but not due to a required routine, he said.
“I believe we need to grow the surveillance system, the laboratory system, the expectations about testing at this time, given that we’re seeing more and more evidence of risk from new variants — this variant and others … of concern,” Gardner said.
He suggested developing a system that is more robust and routine. Right now, testing for the variant is only pursued for those who present symptoms, have travelled, have had contact with someone who has travelled or who are part of a rapidly progressing outbreak, Gardner said.