Precautionary lockdown at Hamlets Seniors home

A staff member at the Hamlet’s at Vernon care home has prompted the facility to take precautionary measures.

“This is not an outbreak, we have voluntarily locked down, after one of our staff tested positive,”Hamlets General Manager Mark Massar tells Vernon Matters. “We have decided to limit visitation and impose a self isolation period out of an abundance of caution.”

The Hamlets currently has 100 long term care and 48 assisted living residents.

Outbreaks at two other Vernon care homes have been declared.

Interior Health is currently dealing with 16 cases of COVID-19 at Noric House and Heritage Square involving both staff and residents.

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Other outbreaks in the Interior Health region include:

• Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna has 30 cases: 25 residents and five staff. There has been one death connected to this outbreak.
• Teck mining operations has 16 IH cases linked to the outbreak.
• McKinney Place long-term care in Oliver remains at 75 cases: 54 residents and 21 staff. There have been 12 deaths connected to this outbreak.
• Village by the Station long-term care in Penticton has nine cases: five residents and four staff. There has been one death connected to this outbreak.
• Mountainview Village long-term care in Kelowna has at 16 cases: eight residents and eight staff. There have been two deaths connected to this outbreak.
• There are 15 new cases associated with the Big White cluster for a total of 111 cases.

The total number of deaths at last report Tuesday in IH has risen to 28, including 3 in the community.

“We are deeply saddened today to report the deaths of 10 more people, bringing the loss of life from COVID-19 since the pandemic began to 28 in the Interior Health region. Our sincere condolences go to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 and, as well, to the caregivers who looked after them,” Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health said.

Thirty three people are in hospital including 6 in intensive care.

“As outbreaks continue to occur in long-term care facilities, it demonstrates again how deadly this virus can be, in particular for our elders. I encourage everyone to take the necessary precautions to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. This is why it is so essential that each of us continue to stringently follow the public health guidance we know stops the spread of COVID-19.” Brown stated.