There are encouraging signs coming from staff who are working diligently to contain a COVID-19 outbreak at The Waterford in Tsawwassen.
After the weekend, which saw a slight uptick in positive cases, bringing the total to 59 residents in the Independent Living community, Bria Communities, who manages the seniors’ community, said in an update Tuesday night on its website, that of the original 53 residents who tested positive, the vast majority are now feeling well and are coming off self-isolation.
“We have a handful of residents who continue to experience some COVID-19-related symptoms and remain in isolation until those symptoms have resolved,” said Bria. “Two of the seven staff who were identified as positive have recovered and returned to work.”
The outbreak was declared by Fraser Health in late December.
Bria said the Medical Health Officer has advised the following to those residents coming off isolation: “Once you have been directed to come off isolation by Public Health, you may leave your suite and resume normal activities as you can’t spread the infection to others. Until the outbreak at The Waterford is declared over by Public Health, do not engage in any social activities or congregate with other residents/staff in the building.”
Bria says they are encouraging residents coming off isolation to continue to self-isolate until the virus is eradicated from the building. However, if residents leave their suites, they are to wear a mask, practice thorough hand hygiene, diligent social distancing and abide by the current health order from Dr. Bonnie Henry.
“Self-isolation is the best way for residents who have tested negative to continue to protect themselves,” added Bria. “The Fraser Health LPN will continue to check negative residents for symptoms and residents who display symptoms are tested immediately. All negative residents and staff will be re-tested on Thursday. Fraser Health will declare the outbreak over when there are two consecutive weeks with no positive tests.
“As a result of the diligence of our entire staff team, the outbreak has not spread to the Care Centre. A vaccination clinic for residents in the Care Centre is scheduled for Thursday. Staff from the Care Centre can access regional vaccination clinics immediately. Fraser Health has notified us that starting mid-February, vaccination clinics for Independent Living residents and staff will begin to be scheduled.”
