Heritage Square on 27th Street in Vernon. (submitted photo)

By Pete McIntyre

More fatalities at Vernon care home

Jan 8, 2021 | 5:30 PM

More residents of a Vernon care home have died of COVID-19 related issues.

Interior Health (IH) reported two additional deaths at Heritage Square on 27th Street Friday, where an outbreak was declared Dec. 27, bringing the total at that facility to four.

Heritage Square long-term care now has 41 cases: 31 residents and 10 staff.

There was also one death at Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna, with a total of 38 fatalities now in IH.

“This has been a week of celebration and heartbreak for many throughout the Interior. While staff and residents of long-term care are receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations, sadly three more people have succumbed to their illness, all in long-term care. While the COVID-19 vaccine brings hope and optimism, we must not lose sight of the important public health measures that help protect our vulnerable loved ones in the community,” Susan Brown, CEO and president of Interior Health, said.

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Two other Vernon facilities are dealing with outbreaks: Creekside Landing long-term care has 13 cases: 10 residents and three staff as of Friday, while Noric House long-term care has 21 cases: 19 residents and two staff.

Update on other outbreaks in IH:

· Sunnybank long-term care in Oliver has 19 cases: 15 residents and four staff.

· Williams Lake Seniors Village has two cases: one resident and one staff.

· Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna has 42 cases: 37 residents and five staff, with two deaths connected to this outbreak.

· Teck mining operations remains at 16 IH cases linked to the outbreak.

· McKinney Place long-term care in Oliver has 77 cases: 54 residents and 23 staff, with 14 deaths connected to this outbreak.

· Village by the Station long-term care in Penticton has nine cases: five residents and four staff, with one death connected to this outbreak.

· Mountainview Village long-term care in Kelowna has 16 cases: eight residents and eight staff, with two deaths connected to this outbreak.

Update on Big White community cluster

· There are 7 new cases associated with the Big White cluster for a total of 143 cases, with 22 active cases.

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On a positive note, Interior Health marked a heart-lifting milestone Friday with residents at Sunnybank long-term care home in Oliver getting vaccinations.

“As vaccine deliveries continue to arrive, and immunizations accelerate throughout our region, we must not lose focus on following the public health guidance that prevents the spread of COVID-19. Adhering to that guidance, combined with COVID-19 vaccine, will help bring an end to this challenging pandemic,” said IH CEO/president Susan Brown.

Interior Health is rolling out COVID-19 vaccines to the priority one populations throughout the region which started with long-term care home staff a few weeks ago.

IH has started vaccinating long-term care home residents as well. The first long-term care home vaccination went to residents at Sunnybank in Oliver using the Pfizer vaccine, as IH now has permission to safely move the vaccine short distances.

While in the community, Interior Health also vaccinated residents at McKinney Place long-term care.

– Pictured below is “Betty” who resides at Sunnybank long-term care receiving the first vaccine.

‘Betty’ gets first vaccine at Sunnybrook long term care in Oliver (Photo credit: Interior Health)