An employee at the KinVillage seniors' home in Tsawwassen has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, prompting health officials to put in place new restrictions to limit the possible spread of the virus that has caused a global pandemic, Fraser Health announced September 4.
It is not known how the employee contracted the virus, which is why this situation is deemed an outbreak. When health officials find a case where an employee at a health facility has tested positive but they know, or are reasonably sure, that the employee contracted the virus in the community, the situation is not considered an outbreak. A situation like that happened recently at New Westminster's Royal Columbian Hospital.
KinVillage is a long term care, assisted living, independent living, and seniors supportive housing campus of care owned and operated by KinVillage Association.
To prevent spread at the KinVillage, health officials have:
• maintained staffing levels;
• restricted visitors throughout the facility;
• restricted staff and resident movement within the facility;
• put in place cleaning and infection-control measures;
• notified residents, families and staff; and
• started conducting screening of staff and residents twice daily.
Provincewide, active COVID-19 outbreaks remain at two healthcare facilities: Surrey Memorial Hospital and New Westminster's Queen's Park Care Centre.
Two new seniors' home outbreaks were announced yesterday, with both involving a single person, said B.C.'s provincial health officer Bonnie Henry. They are at Cherington Place seniors' living facility in Surrey, and at Point Grey Private Hospital in Vancouver.
Other seniors' homes with active outbreaks include:
•Czorny Alzheimer Centre in Surrey;
•Normanna Living in Burnaby;
•Derby Manor in Burnaby;
•George Derby Centre in Burnaby;
•New Vista Care Home in Burnaby;
•MSA Manor long-term care facility in Abbotsford (second outbreak); and
•Bear Creek Villa in Surrey.
The outbreak at Maple Ridge Seniors Village in Maple Ridge was declared officially over on September 3.
As of September 3 there have been 730 COVID-19 infections at seniors' homes, including 443 residents and 287 staff, Henry said.
