UPDATE TO ORIGINAL STORY:

Six more COVID-19 cases were confirmed positive at Pioneer Manor late Monday evening.

That includes two residents and four staff members, bringing the total at the long-term care home to seven cases.

“All residents and staff with positive test results are asymptomatic and doing well,” said Aaron Archibald, Director of Long-term Care Services at Pioneer Manor. “The three residents with positive results are on isolation in private rooms, with staff dedicated to care in these areas only, wearing full personal protective equipment for all interactions. The four staff members who have tested positive are at home self-isolating. This is very difficult news to hear, and will certainly be concerning for residents, families, caregivers, and the community.

“I want to reiterate that the health, safety, and care of our residents and staff is our highest and first priority,” Archibald continued. “We continue to take swift action to stop the spread of the virus through rigorous infection management practices and protocols. Our staff is highly trained and experienced, and we will continue to work closely with Public Health Sudbury and Districts to ensure every possible step is being taken to protect everyone at Pioneer Manor. Last week, we proactively tested all residents and staff of the Home, and have currently received more than 80 per cent of our test results.”

“We continue to work very closely with Pioneer Manor to manage the outbreak and to ensure all cases are thoroughly investigated,” said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health with Public Health Sudbury & Districts. “I understand that this news can be very upsetting for residents and their families. I know I share the sentiments of Pioneer Manor staff and all families of residents in their relief in knowing that all residents are doing well.”

This brings the Public Health Sudbury and Districts confirmed case total to 57. That number includes 44 resolved cases and one death.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Another COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in a Sudbury long-term care home.

The outbreak was declared Sunday at Pioneer Manor. The confirmed case is a man in his 70’s, representing the Public Health Sudbury and Districts’ 51st case. Ministry of Health guidelines dictate that an outbreak be declared with a single laboratory-confirmed case in a resident or staff member.

“The resident is no longer experiencing symptoms and is doing well. He is on isolation in a private room. All other residents in this area were put on isolation and staff caring for them are not performing work outside of this area, wherever possible. Pioneer Manor continues to work closely with Public Health Sudbury & Districts to ensure the safety of residents and staff,” said Aaron Archibald, Director of Long-Term Care Services at Pioneer Manor. “The risk of infection in the home remains low. All 423 residents and 432 staff of the Home have been tested.”

“This is the only positive test result to date, and numerous negative results have already been received for residents in the same area of the home,” Archibald continued. “We will continue to enhance precautions, and I am confident in the expertise and experience of the staff at Pioneer Manor to safely manage this situation.”

“It was for this exact reason that we proactively tested all residents and staff at Pioneer Manor to determine if we had asymptomatic residents or staff in our facility, and if found, to stop the spread,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “Although concerning, after all of the precautions and controls that staff has put in place to prevent the spread of the virus, the identification and isolation of asymptomatic people is the best way to protect our residents and staff throughout this crisis. But let us also take this example to reinforce that we all must remain vigilant and strong.”

“As cases recede across Ontario we can not rest or relax our efforts,” he added. “Our most vulnerable community members are those residing in facilities like Pioneer Manor, we owe it to them and to their families to stay home, keep six feet apart when out and do everything we can to flatten this curve. Lives are at stake, let’s keep that top of mind when we are making choices in the days to come.”

“This case marks the second long-term care home outbreak related to COVID-19 in Public Health Sudbury and Districts’ service area,” said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health with Public Health Sudbury and Districts. “At this time, there are no cases among staff at Pioneer Manor,” added Dr. Sutcliffe. “With the declaration of an outbreak, additional control measures are put in place and overseen by an outbreak control team.”

“This is in addition to the already stringent COVID-19 protection actions in place as required by provincial orders and guidance,” added Dr. Sutcliffe.