Asymptomatic employee at Huron Lodge tests positive

The City of Windsor’s Huron Lodge has confirmed its first case of COVID-19 — an employee who is exhibiting no symptoms.

The positive case has prompted the long-term care home to suspend all non-essential visits until further notice. It had only started allowing limited family visits on June 18.

“We recognize that this is a difficult situation for residents, families and staff at Huron Lodge,” a City of Windsor news release issued Tuesday morning says. “The health, safety and well-being of the residents is and always will be the number one priority.”

The lodge is allowing one essential visitor to see a resident who is dying or very ill.

Staff and administration at Huron Lodge have been working “tirelessly” during the last four months to guard against COVID -19 coming into the home, the release said.

“Through continued testing, an asymptomatic employee has been identified as COVID positive.”

The employee was notified of the test results on Monday by the Windsor Essex County Health Unit and is taking all the recommended measures to self-isolate.

The city says while the health unit has not declared Huron Lodge to be in outbreak status, “we are proactively sharing this information with the community.”

The employee, the city said, took all appropriate infection control measures while at work, including the use of personal protective equipment.

Huron Lodge continues to actively screen residents, staff and essential visitors for symptoms, including everyone who enters the home. Those in the home are screened twice a day, including with temperature checks.

All staff and essential visitors wear surgical/procedure masks at all times while in the home. New patients are screened and placed in self-isolation for 14 days. And enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures are employed throughout the home.