Fairview outbreak receives rapid response

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/11/2020 (1875 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Following a COVID-19 outbreak at the Fairview Personal Care Home in Brandon, staff from the Brandon Regional Health Centre were redeployed to the 248-bed long-term care facility.

The outbreak was declared Nov. 16.

As of Monday afternoon, 21 residents and seven staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) spokesperson. One death is linked to the outbreak.

“These site numbers are provided to the province, and there can be a slight delay when entering into the overall public health database,” the spokesperson stated by email.

“There are also a number of residents currently isolating while waiting for test results.”

Further, Emergency Response Services paramedics have been providing staffing and resident care support at Fairview, as well as at Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home, two hours north of Brandon, as part of the PMH COVID-19 Rapid Response Team.

The Gilbert Plains outbreak was announced Nov. 13.

“These paramedics work within their scope of practice as part of a multi-disciplinary team on site to perform resident assessments, medication administration, IVs, provide care and assist the facility staff with additional tasks such as moving supplies and equipment and helping to move or feed residents,” the PMH spokesperson said.

“Assigned paramedics are given an orientation on site upon arrival and are provided with support from facility staff when completing tasks aside from direct resident care and assessment.”

Additionally, Brandon Fire and Emergency Services have been supporting the response at Fairview.

“By supporting the care needs of residents within their (personal care) home, the team is able to provide enhanced care on site and avoid unnecessary transfers to hospital,” the spokesperson stated.

“To ensure the safety of families and residents, caregiver visitation has been suspended temporarily while test results are pending. All families are aware of the outbreak situation and are provided ongoing updated information.”

Other measures that have been put in place include:

• ensuring residents with symptoms remain in their rooms, with delivered meals and access to a dedicated bathroom;

• enhancing environmental cleaning and disinfection in consultation with infection prevention and control experts, with increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces and equipment;

• undertaking contact tracing of staff and residents with potential exposure to the case, with public health, infection prevention and control and occupational health officials taking part in the process;

• cancelling group activities and social gatherings; and

• increasing the frequency of active screening for COVID-19 symptoms in residents and staff.

» mletourneau@brandonsun.com

» Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.