Seventeen additional coronavirus cases have been linked to an outbreak at a long-term care facility in Victoria.
Island Health reported Sunday evening that 13 residents and four staff members at the Sunset Lodge long-term care home tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections linked to the outbreak to 22.
The health authority says the latest infections were discovered following a round of testing that took place on Saturday.
“At this time, most residents are not experiencing symptoms. Communication with residents, families, and staff is ongoing,” Island Health said in a media release issued Sunday evening.
An outbreak at Sunset Lodge — located on Arm Street — was first declared by Island Health on Aug. 27 after three staff members became infected with COVID-19. Six additional staff members and 13 residents have since tested positive for the virus.
Island Health says while they have implemented comprehensive strategies to prevent and respond to COVID-19 in long-term care and other care facilities, they will have “additional presence” at Sunset Lodge in order to support the facility and answer questions from staff, residents and family members.
According to Sunset Lodge, 100 per cent of residents and 96 per cent of staff members have been fully vaccinated.
“The health and safety of our staff and residents is our number one priority and we are cooperating closely with [Island Health] and are proactively following all recommended measures, which includes maintaining our staff levels to provide care, enhanced cleaning, twice-a-day screening for all staff and residents, limited client mobility, and masks are mandatory,” Sunset Lodge executive director, Suzanne Sadler, said in a statement posted online.
Sunset Lodge is owned and operated by the Salvation Army.
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Nicholas Pescod
