The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit says it has declared a respiratory outbreak at Belvedere Heights long-term care facility in Parry Sound, adding "the causative agent is COVID-19."
In a release, the Health Unit states, "The two individuals who tested positive are staff at the long-term care home. The individuals are currently in isolation. No residents at Belvedere Heights have tested positive for COVID-19."
The North Bay Parry Sound catchment area has experienced some of the lowest COVID-19 positive test rates in the province. In the district, the Belvedere Heights outbreak is the third documented in a retirement or long-term care facility. The other two outbreaks in the district are considered "resolved."
In the North Bay Parry Sound district, as of today, the Health Unit is reporting 14,195 total tests administered, with 33 positives resulting in 29 cases resolved, one death, one in isolation, plus the two most recent positives in Parry Sound.
According to the Ministry of Health, "An outbreak in a Long-Term Care Home is declared with a single, laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in a resident or staff member. When only asymptomatic residents and/or staff with positive results are found as part of enhanced surveillance testing of residents and/or staff, it may not be necessary to declare an outbreak. An outbreak may be declared over when there are no new cases in residents or staff after 14 days."
"Our staff are working with Belvedere Heights to provide important public health direction,” says Dr. Jim Chirico, the district's Medical Officer of Health. “It is important that we do our best to keep our older and more vulnerable individuals safe. We remind everyone in our district to continue to practice physical distancing, use a face covering when distancing is a challenge, use proper coughing, sneezing and hand washing etiquette, and isolate when having symptoms or if they have come in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or suspected to have COVID-19.”
The Health Unit reminds the public there is no specific treatment for COVID-19.
"It is important to remember that most people with COVID-19 have no symptoms or mild symptoms. People who are mildly ill should isolate and care for
themselves at home. Most will recover in one to two weeks by simply treating the symptoms. The public needs to remain cautious. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, isolate yourself and call a testing centre to book an appointment.
The Health Unit says if you have additional questions about COVID-19, call the call centre at 1-800-563-2808 option 5 or for more information, click here.
