Worst hit care home ‘almost free’ of Covid-19
The care home hardest hit by coronavirus in Renfrewshire is almost free of the deadly disease.
Elderslie Care Home, where 26 people tragically lost their lives after falling ill with Covid-19, has seen a dramatic decline in the number of residents showing symptoms.
As of yesterday morning, one resident was being nursed in isolation having tested Covid-19 positive.
The resident is the only member of the Fulbar Road home to have shown symptoms in the past two weeks.
This month has seen a massive shift in the containment of the virus in the home, with no new deaths recorded in the first 18 days of May.
A spokesman for Elderslie Care Home said:“While our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of those residents who have passed away at Elderslie Care Home since the start of the pandemic, we are pleased that our infection control steps have restricted the further spread of the virus at the home.
“We currently have only one resident who has tested positive for the virus, who is being barrier nursed and cared for in isolation in keeping
with our strict infection control protocols.
“We appreciate that this continues to be a worrying time for families but please be assured our dedicated colleagues are doing everything in their power to provide the best care possible at this challenging time.”
The news is a welcome boost for staff who have been “devastated” by the loss of life within the Paisley home and for families with loved ones living there.
The Express reported on April 27 that 22 people had died at the home since its first recorded case at the start of April.
A further four residents passed away in the three days following that report.
Advinia Health Care, which runs the home, has been following the latest guidance from Health Protection Scotland to prevent further onward transmission of the virus.
The news comes as Renfrewshire Council reports the number of care homes still caring for people with coronavirus has also decreased.
In a report produced for councillors at Friday’s meeting of the Emergencies Board, only six of the 22 care homes in Renfrewshire said they currently had coronavirus present within their facilities.
That is a decline from ten the previous week and 11 at the end of April.
In her report, council chief executive Sandra Black said: “Sadly, 103 people have now been reported by care homes as dying with Covid- 19 since March 18.
“A smaller group of six care homes are now reporting residents with symptoms of Covid- 19, or have confirmed cases.
“However, the number of residents now reported as symptomatic or confirmed has risen to 45 in part because the wider use of testing is now identifying people affected at an earlier stage. This information continues to be subject to frequent change.”
Testing is being rolled out at homes across the county after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon extended testing to all residents and staff at a care home where one person had shown symptoms of the virus.
The change came into effect on May 1 and was backdated to homes that had reported cases in the days previous.
It is envisaged that testing will have been completed at 12 Renfrewshire care homes by Thursday.