The Saskatchewan Health Authority is placing restrictions on long-term care homes in Regina. The SHA says due to an increase in COVID-19 cases at a number of long-term care homes in the city family presence is now at Level 3, meaning family presence is now limited to end of life care.
Multiple cases are now present in a number of homes, impacting both residents and staff. Outbreaks are either confirmed, or suspected at:
- Regina Lutheran Home
- Santa Maria
- Extendicare Elmview
- Extendicare Parkside
- Extendicare Sunset
- Regina Pioneer Village
- Wascana Rehabilitation Centre (only the unit where long-term care is provided)
Most of those infected have not been displaying symptoms, nor have they required hospitalization at this time. Testing at the homes is ongoing for both staff and residents.
SHA spokesperson Dr. Rashaad Hansia (hons-yuh) says it isn”t known how long this will be in place for.
“We are monitoring the situation with the intent of reversing this decision as soon as possible.” Hansia told reporters Monday afternoon. “It is something we will continue to monitor on a daily basis. Hancia could not say how many positive cases there are or how many have had to be hospitalized. Problems with gathering daily numbers to put on the provincial COVID-19 dashboard meant new case numbers could not be made available Monday. On Sunday, there were 47 new cases in the Regina zone.
A number of actions have been taken to protect the most vulnerable, including:
- Introducing HEPA fans into the homes, in order to increase air circulation;
- All health care workers in these homes are required to wear N95 respirators at all times. At Wascana Rehabilitation Centre, only those staff working on the long-term care unit are affected; and
- Where deemed necessary, and for a variety of reasons, some residents may be relocated to alternate locations in order to provide them with more protection.
Additionally, and out of an abundance of caution, each home may be adopting further measures to deal with the outbreak, based on their situation. All are well supplied with necessary personal protective equipment. Vaccination rates for residents at these homes is very high – over 90 per cent in most cases.
As for what may have caused this incident, Hancia says there has been no catalyst but those affected are both patients and staff with some being unvaccinated and others being vaccinated.
