COVID-19 Update: April 13, 2020 – Confirmed Resident Cases of COVID-19

In the past 24 hours, we have received notification from Public Health of two residents who have tested positive for COVID-19.

In both cases, we have involved our organizational COVID-19 Response Team, which includes our Infection Prevention Control Specialist and Occupational Health leadership, who are now actively working with the sites. When someone tests positive, Public Health moves quickly to contact any person who has had contact with the individual and provides clear direction on how to proceed. In addition, we are conducting our own thorough contact tracing and taking additional steps to protect residents and team members. In some cases, this will include additional infection prevention and control precautions, including the appropriate use of PPE.

The first case is a resident from the Fishermen’s Cove neighbourhood at Harbourstone Enhanced Care in Sydney, N.S. Late last night, April 12, 2020, Public Health informed us the resident had tested positive for COVID-19. This resident had been transferred to the hospital on April 11 and remains there.

All residents in the Fishermen’s Cove neighbourhood have been tested and placed on isolation. We continue to monitor them closely. At this time, there are no other residents at Harbourstone who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Public Health has also directed testing of some employees working on the resident’s neighbourhood. These employees are currently off-work and being followed by our occupational health team pending results from the tests. At this time, there are no team members at Harbourstone who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The second case is a resident from the Ringdale neighbourhood at Maplestone Enhanced Care in Halifax, N.S. We received notification this afternoon that this resident has tested positive.
All residents of the Ringdale neighbourhood and the adjacent Evans neighbourhood will be tested and have been placed on appropriate infection control precautions. Team members continue to monitor them closely. At this time, there are no other residents at Maplestone who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Public Health will provide direction for testing of team members working on the Ringdale resident’s neighbourhood as appropriate. Our occupational health team is currently conducting our own employee contact tracing and risk assessment as we await direction from Public Health. At this time, there are no team members at Maplestone who have tested positive for COVID-19.

In an effort to minimize the risk to other residents, we have activated our Regional Designated Care/Cohorting Area at Parkstone Enhanced Care. The Maplestone resident was transferred there this afternoon. These areas follow all standard isolation protocols, including the appropriate use PPE, and are also staffed by team members who are dedicated to caring for residents with COVID-19 and have separate entrances and staffing levels to care for affected residents.

We have contacted all residents, families and team members at both sites and will continue to keep them updated.

We are grateful for the bravery and commitment of our team members and the support of our partners at the Department of Health and Wellness, Public Health and the Nova Scotia Health Authority as we continue to work together during this challenging time.

For more information about our pandemic response, please visit our COVID-19 Update page.