Calgary – Widespread testing is underway at the Generations long term care facility as another senior is now confirmed infected with Covid-19.
Three seniors and 7 staff are infected for a total of ten.
“We continue to be focused on the care and safety of our residents and staff at Generations, and currently have 7 staff members and 3 residents who have tested positive,” said Executive-Director Cindy Simpson in an emailed response on Monday.
Generations is a state of the art facility built by the Ismaili community on a concept of bringing people of all ages in one place. The facility includes a child care centre as well as a social hall.
Mohamud Zaver, Chair of the Board, Generations Calgary said: “Three residents and seven staff have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week at Generations.
“One resident is in hospital in stable condition and the other two are asymptomatic and in isolation at Generations.
“Four infected staff are asymptomatic at home in isolation, while three staff have minor symptoms and are also at home in isolation.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with all those who are affected and their families, for their health and well- being, and with the entire Generations community,” Zaver said.
“Generations Calgary is working closely with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and local public health officials to ensure that all health and safety protocols are in place to protect the residents, staff and community.”
“The Medical Officer of Health for Calgary region (MOHC) has advised that there is low risk of transmission of COVID-19 to residents and staff,” he added
“Additional health and safety measures put in place since the start of the outbreak, as per protocol, include increased cleaning of high-touch and resident spaces, limiting staff contact with residents, initiating protocols for contact and cohort tracing, limiting resident movement and interaction, delivery of all meals to rooms, and other measures.
“In collaboration with AHS, residents and staff will also undergo frequent on-site testing to monitor the situation and respond appropriately.”
The building has several floors where there are assisted living suites as well as wards housing around 120 seniors.
The outbreak here is part of an escalating number of cases of Covid-19 in Alberta. A total of five care facilities have infections in Calgary alone.
Alberta Health Services reported:
- Increase of 130 cases (29 on July 3, 52 on July 4, 49 on July 5), no new deaths.
- 607 active cases.
- 7,627 recovered cases.
- 487,915 tests performed by the lab.
- The total number of deaths in Alberta stands at 155.
- 8,389 total cases in Alberta.
- 57 are hospitalized with 6 of them in ICU.
- The average age of 155 deaths is 83 years.
In Edmonton, Misericordia Community Hospital is in partial lockdown with only a few sections functioning along with emergency.
“As of this morning, there are 18 patients at the hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19 in relation to this outbreak. In addition, 14 staff members have tested positive. Eight new cases were identified over the weekend (seven patients, one staff member).
“Two patients linked to this outbreak have passed away, and our sympathies are with their family members and loved ones at this difficult time,” AHS said in a statement.
“In order to reduce the risk of further transmission of COVID-19, the Misericordia Community Hospital is now closed to new admissions and transfers for surgical and medicine patients.
“EMS will take patients to other hospitals in the Edmonton Zone, with the exception of emergencies where the hospital is the nearest acute care site. At this time, women in labour may still continue with their birth plan where the Misericordia was the planned site.”
“Surgical capacity will be restricted to day surgery for now. Overnight surgeries will be postponed or completed at another site in the Edmonton Zone. The Edmonton Zone continues to meet the needs of patients who need urgent, emergent and oncology surgeries.
“Patients who have tested positive are being cared for together on three units, including the hospital’s designated COVID-19 unit, however eight units are now included in the outbreak restrictions as a necessary precaution.”
