Three residents at Fairfield park in Wallaceburg have tested positive for COVID-19.
“Chatham-Kent Public Health notified Fairfield Park on Saturday January 25, 2021 that two of our residents have tested positive for COVID-19,” Fairfield Park officials posted on their website on Monday, January 25, 2021.
“On Sunday we were notified of a third resident testing positive for COVID-19. We are working closely with Public Health to ensure we are following all isolation and infection prevention and control measures. The home will operate with increased public health measures until the outbreak is declared over. Employees continue to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. Residents will be tested throughout the outbreak at the discretion of Public Health and our attending physician.”
Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, said these cases are the first long-term care residents in Chatham-Kent to test positive for COVID-19.
“We are working diligently to contain and manage this outbreak,” Dr. Colby stated.
“We have been very successful at preventing such outbreaks but with numbers high in Ontario and time, it was almost inevitable.”
Jeff Moco, a spokesperson for CK Public Health, told the Sydenham Current the outbreak at Fairfield Park now has seven active cases.
“We can confirm that there are some cases amongst residents,” Moco said.
“For privacy purposes we are unable to share the specific ratio of staff/resident at this time.”
Fairfield Park officials say due to long term care being in Grey-Lockdown status province-wide, there is no general visiting allowed, and only one essential caregiver per resident is allowed at a time.
“Full PPE must be worn by all essential caregivers at all times,” Fairfield Park officials say.
“This includes gown, gloves, eye protection and a mask worn properly over the nose and mouth, including while in resident rooms. We will provide these items for you.”
The safety of their residents and their employees is their top priority, Fairfield Park officials say.
“Thanks goes to our caring and dedicated Fairfield Park staff who continue to do their part in following exceptional infection control protocols,” officials with the Wallaceburg long-term care home stated.
“Please continue to do your part and help to keep our residents and staff safe. Only leave home for essential trips, keep a two metre distance between yourself and anyone not part of your household, practice good hand hygiene, wear masks whenever there is a chance you can’t keep that two metre distance, and please stay home if you are not well.”
Fairfield Park officials added: “Together we can get through this.”
CK Public Health officials declared a COVID-19 institutional outbreak at Fairfield Park on January 10, 2021.
The outbreak remains active as of Monday morning, January 25, 2021.
– This story has been updated.
