The County of Renfrew has received an update on the recent outbreak at Miramichi Lodge long-term care home in Pembroke.
Director of long-term care Shelley Sheedy says COVID-19 claimed the lives of two residents and adds five others recovered. Sheedy told members of county council this morning (March 31st, 2021) she doesn’t think they could have done anything more or anything different to change the outcome.
The director of long-term care outlined some of the safety precautions in place which included limiting staff to one workplace, isolate and test residents as soon as they show one symptom, paused community admissions to the home, added eye protection, extensive screening and testing staff and essential caregivers before each shift or visit. Sheedy says with rapid testing now in place, results come back within 15 minutes and visitors are not allowed in unless they get a negative result.
Through the recent outbreak, two staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Sheedy says one staff member has recovered and the other will be cleared to return to work either today or tomorrow as long as they remain asymptomatic.
Sheedy adds residents who tested positive for the virus had the option to be transferred to the hospital or treated at the long-term care home. She adds each resident and their essential caregivers decided they wanted to remain at Miramichi Lodge to receive their care.
The COVID-19 outbreak at Miramichi Lodge was declared over by the Renfrew County and District Health Unit earlier this week.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Cushman said the fact that almost all of the residents had been vaccinated played a key role in the recovery
Director of long-term care Shelley Sheedy says they have some of the highest vaccination uptakes in Ontario. 100% of residents, 98% of essential caregivers and 89% of staff have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Sheedy adds they also screened the positive cases and no COVID-19 variants of concern were identified as part of the outbreak
Sheedy says staff celebrated when residents recovered, putting up signs and balloons to welcome them back to their rooms. She adds they also honoured the two residents they lost.
Chair of the Health Committee and Admaston/Bromley Mayor Michael Donohue says despite being as prepared as they could possibly be, this opportunistic virus came and did damage the same. Donohue implores the community to continue to closely follow all the guidelines in place.
