Kingsville retirement home added to local outbreak list

Medical officer of health says single case does not confirm virus spread in facility

One resident of a Kingsville retirement home has tested positive for COVID -19, bringing the total number of local long-term care and retirement homes with outbreaks of the virus to 11.

The Windsor-essex County Health Unit is working to find out how the Chartwell Kingsville Retirement Residence resident, who has not been allowed personal visitors for months, contracted COVID-19.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed said the individual was asymptomatic when swabbed as part of public health’s “surveillance testing ” efforts to detect the disease early. That means he or she did not necessarily transfer the illness to other residents or staff, who began practising strict disease prevention measures before anyone there tested positive.

“If people are using the appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment), (and) following the right infection prevention and control measures, it doesn’t necessarily mean that spread happened unless there is evidence to show that,” Ahmed said on Thursday during the health unit’s daily update on COVID-19. “The homes and the facilities, they are aware of all of these measures to protect the staff, the residents, even when the facility is not in outbreak.”

Although an outbreak has now been declared at Chartwell, it doesn’t mean staff failed to follow preventive measures, he said.

Guidelines from the province require health units to complete the swabbing of all long-term care and retirement home residents by May 15, Ahmed said. He expects the local facility testing efforts to be finished next weekend, at the latest, with Windsor-essex EMS and facility staff continuing to swab residents in large numbers each day.

He estimated 75 per cent of local facility residents have been tested for COVID-19. Only 50 to 60 per cent of staff has been tested, since not every staff member is at work when EMS arrives to collect specimens, he said. The health unit encourages staff who have not yet been tested to visit an assessment centre for swabbing.

“With many of the restrictions and limitations on how these facilities are operating, the hope is we are in a much better position to contain that high-risk population” and keep them from contracting the disease, Ahmed said.

Once testing of all residents and staff at long-term care and retirement homes is complete, the health unit will continue to work with facilities to ensure those inside remain healthy and safe, Ahmed said.

“We have been doing this for many, many years now, even with influenza. Our staff and our team is in contact always with these facilities to make sure they are getting the right support, including infection prevention and control and guidance (about) the outbreak. We do provide regular training on outbreak management and following everything they need to do from an active surveillance perspective, and seeking out public health support as needed.”

As of Thursday morning, 674 people in Windsor and Essex County have tested positive for COVID-19, an increase of nine from the day before. Of those, 229 people have recovered, 18 are in hospital, and 57 have died. The status of the remaining cases is currently unknown to the health unit, which continues to follow up by phone with residents who have confirmed cases of the virus.

No new deaths were reported Thursday morning.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Wednesday that businesses with street access would be allowed to open for curbside sales and pickup. Customers will be allowed inside some other stores, like garden centres and hardware stores, beginning this weekend.

Ahmed urged those thinking of attending businesses to practise physical distancing, wash their hands regularly, limit trips to only what is necessary, and stay home if they are sick.

“The COVID -19 pandemic is not over, and we must all continue to do our part to maintain the safety of our community,” he said.

Owners and operators of reopening businesses are reminded to appropriately flush out any water lines that have not been regularly used in the past several weeks.

Ahmed also recognized National Child and Youth Mental Health Day, part of Mental Health Awareness Week. COVID -19 has presented a difficult time for children and youth, he said, with much uncertainty and rapidly changing conditions “that can be difficult to cope with and understand” and can cause stress.

To help kids cope with newly presented challenges, parents and caregivers can talk to them about COVID -19, keep a regular routine, limit their exposure to news and “overly negative media,” encourage them to engage socially with others, support healthy eating, and make sure they remain physically active.

“So much of the childhood experience is about building social connections, relationships, and learning. We know that if children and youth have at least one trusted adult that they can talk to, it has a positive impact on their mental health outcomes,” Ahmed said.

“It is critical today and every day to listen to your youth, support, and guide them through this.”

The homes and the facilities, they are aware of all of these measures