October 16, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – COVID positive = 3

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COVID UPDATE – October 16, 2021 – Terrace West Called on Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 3 (3 residents TW | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = October 13

One is in hospital. Please pray for his recovery.

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This morning, the mobile COVID testing team from Fraser Health came to swab the residents who were identified by Public Health as requiring swabbing (see memo below). Leonard Klassen, Sharon Simpson and Trish Giesbrecht provided the support to bring residents to the bistro for the COVID swab. The team was very efficient and had the swabs completed by 10am! Results will be given to the residents by Public Health. Families, please report these results to Leonard Klassen – 604.851.4006 or to Reception: 604.851.4004. If you have your loved one’s date of birth and personal health number, you can check results by going to this link: https://results.bccdc.ca/

It was very meaningful to us to hear the resident’s express their gratitude for the onsite swabbing and the care for their safety that we are providing for them by following the Provincial Health Orders. There were many good conversations and plenty of laughs as we navigated the morning. Staff who worked in Terrace West are getting swabbed at the community site.

We now have a Fraser Health staff member who is working each day from 10am – 6pm who will be delivering the morning snack, the lunch and will be doing the wellness check each day. The wellness check is asking each resident if they have any symptoms on the COVID symptom list.

We will likely have another point-prevalence testing in 7 days. Please note that there is now a gargle option available for residents. They cannot have any food or drink for 60 minutes prior to the test. We will add this to a memo to the residents in the coming week.

The memo, below, outlines the expectations of visitors and essential visitors as we move forward in this outbreak. If you are concerned about your loved one, please phone Trish Giesbrecht, 604.851.4020. She will discuss essential visitor designation with you. Cheryl Dawes is on vacation for another week. Please pray for her as she recuperates from her daily work during both the TE and TW outbreaks.

Thank you for the calls and letters of support. We are grateful for your encouragement and grateful to be of service.
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This memo was handed out to the residents yesterday at the end of the day.
 
MEMO
Date: October 15, 2021
To: Terrace West (IL) Residents re: Terrace West on Outbreak
______________________________________________________________

We are sorry to inform you that there are three Terrace West residents diagnosed with COVID-19. The Terrace West apartment building has been declared on Outbreak. This means that there are specific enhanced infection control protocols that need to be followed to ensure that COVID does not spread further.

What does it mean for those on isolation? All residents who were in contact with a COVID positive resident have already been placed on isolation and are being tested for COVID. They must continue to isolate (no leaving the apartment suite) and wait for direction from the Public Health Officer. They have a cart outside their apartment door and anyone entering must wear full personal protective equipment.

Residents on 2nd and 4th floors – All residents on these floors will be tested for COVID on Saturday, October 16th. We will notify you when it is your turn to come down to the Bistro for your COVID swab. These residents are not on isolation at this time.

Additional residents to receive COVID testing – In addition, residents who were in proximity to a COVID positive resident will be tested for COVID. You will be notified by Menno Place if you are to be tested. These residents are not on isolation at this time.

What about those who are not on isolation? If you are not on isolation, you are asked to follow all enhanced infection control protocols wearing a mask when you are with anyone else, practicing hand hygiene, staying in your suite as much as possible and staying 6 feet apart from others. Don’t visit in each other’s apartment suites. This also means answering a wellness check, twice a day asking if you have any COVID symptoms. Your noon meal will be delivered to your apartment suite.

What about visitors? Only essential visitors may enter this apartment building or your suite. The Medical Health Officer has to approve anyone to be an essential visitor. The process for application and approval is to phone Trish Giesbrecht, Nurse Manager to explain the situation – 604.851.4020. Loved ones can enter the foyer to drop-off essential items such as groceries to you.

Essential Support Services: If you receive home support services to assist you with activities of daily living (getting ready in the morning or night, showering, medicine) from Fraser Health, carry on as usual. If another organization provides you services, please notify Reception (604.851.4004) to ensure they are permitted entry. No unvaccinated service providers permitted.

Can residents who are not isolated go out? Yes. You may leave the apartment building. This includes walks around the Menno Place campus or going out with a loved one. It also includes medical appointments. We are advising you not to go to public places or where groups gather. This includes avoiding grocery stores, the shopping mall and church services. This virus is very contagious and the elderly are the most vulnerable to it. Use all your layers of protection: mask, hand washing, 6 feet distance.

MEMO – TERRACE WEST RESIDENTS (IL) – October 13, 2021

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This memo was handed out to residents of Terrace West on October 13, 2021

MEMO

Date:              October 13, 2021

To:                  Terrace West Residents

Re:                 COVID EXPOSURE – TERRACE WEST

COVID EXPOSURE – TERRACE WEST

A resident of Terrace West has been identified as COVID positive. Those in contact with the resident have been swabbed for COVID and are waiting for their test results.

While we wait for the test results and direction from Public Health, the dining room will be closed.

Your meals will be delivered to your apartment suite until further notice.

You may continue to go out and have visitors in your suite. Wear a mask at all times. Use hand sanitizer frequently and wash hands with warm, soapy water often.

It is time now to reduce your contact with people – keep your circle small. Visit with others on the phone instead of in person.

This is a good time to reduce your outings to essential outings only, such as groceries or medical appointments. Choose to watch church online or on Channel 10 again.

If you do go to church, wear a mask the entire time. Stay 6 feet apart from others. The prevalence of the Delta variant of COVID is very high in our community and it is very contagious.

No unvaccinated people are permitted inside the apartment buildings, including your family members, housekeepers, service providers or friends.

Do you have any of these COVID symptoms – even mildly? Get tested for COVID and let us know: Reception: 604.851.4004

Fever or chills? Cough? Unproductive cough?
Sore throat? Runny nose? Extreme fatigue or tiredness?
Body aches? Muscle aches? Diarrhea?
Difficulty breathing? Loss of sense of smell or taste?
Loss of appetite? Headache? Nausea or vomiting?

October 2, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – CALLED OVER BY MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER!

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COVID UPDATE – October 2, 2021 – Terrace West Outbreak CALLED OVER!

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (1 residents TW | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = September 22, 2021

We are so pleased to tell you that the COVID outbreak in Terrace West has been declared OVER! Visitors may resume to visit with residents in their apartments. You must sign-in for contact tracing in the event of another COVID exposure. Masks are mandatory in common areas. Unvaccinated individuals must wear a mask for the full duration of their time in the building. Fully vaccinated visitors are encouraged to keep their masks on for their visit as a layer of protection for their elderly loved one. There are no unvaccinated service providers permitted in the building. This includes housekeepers, foot care, personal care or companionship. This is by order of the Provincial Health Officer.

We have lost 3 residents in Terrace East to COVID during the Terrace East outbreak (which continues). This reminds us that, although full vaccination is the best protection for the elderly, there is still a vulnerability for our elders, particularly when they have other health considerations. Please encourage your loved one to follow all safety protocols, including wearing a mask, keeping a six foot distance from others and practicing hand hygiene. Those who attend church are encouraged to wear a mask for the whole service. There are increased protocols by the Provincial Health Officer for the eastern part of the Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford. This is due to some of the lowest vaccination rates in the province as well as increasing cases of COVID. Now is the time to be cautious, particularly for the elderly. We appreciate your support in encouraging safety measures for your loved one. As you know, if one resident in the building is COVID positive, it can put all residents in isolation which is very challenging for both residents and families.

October 1, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=1)

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COVID UPDATE – October 1, 2021 – Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (1 residents TW | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = September 22, 2021

There are no new cases of COVID to report today in Terrace West. Terrace West outbreak protocols continue – no social visitors. Only essential visitors permitted in the resident apartments. Please connect with Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment (604.851.4020) if you would like to speak about a concern with your loved one and their specific circumstances.

There have been several symptomatic residents who have been swabbed in the past week and are being monitored. The Medical Health Officer considers all the factors when making a decision to call the outbreak off.

September 29, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=1)

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COVID UPDATE – September 29, 2021 – Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (1 residents TW | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = September 22, 2021

There are no new cases of COVID to report today in Terrace West. Terrace West outbreak protocols continue – no social visitors. Only essential visitors permitted in the resident apartments. Please connect with Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment (604.851.4020) if you would like to speak about a concern with your loved one and their specific circumstances.

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The residents who were swabbed and put on isolation as a result of contact tracing from the Terrace West index case are no longer on isolation!! Families have been contacted.

NOTE – Some residents remain on isolation. Residents on isolation due to a return from Hospital or due to COVID symptoms are not released from isolation in this announcement. You will receive individual information that pertains to your loved one.

We continue with the Outbreak orders by the Medical Health Officer including no social visitors, lunch served to each apartment suite and no gathering of residents. Essential deliveries can be brought into the foyer of Terrace West and the resident may meet you in the foyer to pick up deliveries.

If you were (in the past) a Registered Visitor, please note that this program is no longer active. There are no social visitors allowed in Terrace West.

September 28, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=1)

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COVID UPDATE – September 28, 2021 – Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (1 residents TW | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = September 22, 2021

There are no new cases of COVID to report today in Terrace West. Residents swabbed and put on isolation as a result of contact tracing from the Terrace West index case are no longer on isolation!! Families have been contacted.

NOTE – Some residents remain on isolation. Residents on isolation due to a return from Hospital or due to COVID symptoms are not released from isolation in this announcement. You will receive individual information that pertains to your loved one.

We continue with the Outbreak orders by the Medical Health Officer including no social visitors, lunch served to each apartment suite and no gathering of residents. Essential deliveries can be brought into the foyer of Terrace West and the resident may meet you in the foyer to pick up deliveries.

If you were (in the past) a Registered Visitor, please note that this program is no longer active. There are no social visitors allowed in Terrace West.

September 27, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=1)

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COVID UPDATE – September 27, 2021 – Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (1 residents TW | 0 staff)

There are no new cases of COVID to report today in Terrace West. Residents on isolation remain on isolation. Residents who have returned from hospital or who are symptomatic are tested for COVID and put on isolation. We continue with the Outbreak orders by the Medical Health Officer including no social visitors, lunch served to each apartment suite and no gathering of residents. Essential deliveries can be brought into the foyer of Terrace West and the resident (not on isolation) may meet you in the foyer to pick up deliveries.

If you were (in the past) a Registered Visitor, please note that this program is no longer active. There are no social visitors allowed in Terrace West.

September 24, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=1)

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COVID UPDATE – September 24, 2021 – Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (1 residents TW | 0 staff)

There are no new cases of COVID to report today in Terrace West. All of the residents who were put on isolation by Public Health due to contact tracing have been swabbed and all tests have returned negative. These residents remain on isolation and await further instruction from the Medical Health Officer as they have been directly exposed to a COVID positive individual.

Here is the memo that will be delivered to Terrace West residents today. It will answer many of the questions that you may have about how you can support your loved one living in Terrace West.

MEMO
Date:             September 24, 2021
To:                  Terrace West (IL) Residents re: Terrace West on Outbreak
______________________________________________________________

We are sorry to inform you that a resident of Terrace West was diagnosed with COVID-19. The Terrace West apartment building has been declared on Outbreak. This means that there are specific enhanced infection control protocols that need to be followed to ensure that COVID does not spread further.

What does it mean for those on isolation? All residents who were in contact with the COVID positive resident have already been placed on isolation have all tested negative for COVID. They must continue to isolate and wait for direction from the Medical Health Officer. They have a cart outside their apartment door and anyone entering must wear full personal protective equipment.

What about those who are not on isolation? If you are not on isolation, you are asked to follow all enhanced infection control protocols wearing a mask when you are with anyone else, practicing hand hygiene, staying in your suite as much as possible and staying 6 feet apart from others. Don’t visit in each other’s apartment suites. This also means answering a Fraser Health nurse who will ask you twice a day if you have any COVID symptoms. Your noon meal will be delivered to your apartment suite.

What about visitors? Only essential visitors may enter this apartment building or your suite. The Medical Health Officer has to approve anyone to be an essential visitor. The process for application and approval is to phone Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment to explain your situation – 604.851.4020. Anyone who doesn’t live with you is considered a visitor including housekeepers, family, friend. Loved ones can enter the foyer to drop-off essential items such as groceries to you.

Home Support Services: If you receive home support services to assist you with activities of daily living (getting ready in the morning or night, showering, medicine) from Fraser Health, carry on as usual. If another organization provides you services, please notify Reception (604.851.4004) to ensure they are permitted entry as an essential service.

Can residents who are not isolated go out? Yes. You may leave the apartment building. This includes walks or going out with a loved one. It also includes medical appointments. This is a time to be cautious about going where there are large groups (stores, restaurants or church). This virus is very contagious and the elderly are still the most vulnerable to it. Use all your layers of protection: mask, hand washing, 6 feet distance.

Memo from Fraser Health – Terrace West (IL) Outbreak

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September 23, 2021

Dear Families of Menno Terrace West – IL,

We are writing to notify you that someone at Menno Terrace West – IL was diagnosed with COVID-19. The Fraser Health COVID -19 team is working with the staff at the facility to identify anyone who may have been exposed and to take steps to protect the health of all residents and staff.

This exposure does not mean that your family member is sick with COVID-19. Residents and staff will be screened twice-daily for any signs of illness. Those who develop symptoms will be isolated, tested for COVID-19 and provided the care they need.

The health and safety of our residents and staff is our first priority and a responsibility we take very seriously. To date, as part of our proactive management, Fraser Health has worked to ensure the following measures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at this care home:

  • ensuring that staff wear a procedure mask that covers their mouth and nose, eye protection and other personal protective equipment as recommended;
  • enhancing our daily cleaning practices;
  • maintenance of 2m of physical distance in dining rooms, staggered meal times, tray service or other strategies
  • cancellation of group activites and client gatherings, while providing one-to-one activity as appropriate;
  • visitor access restrictions and screening measures for essential visitors.

Additional measures being taken now that there has been a positive case identified include:

  • providing active staff screeners deployed by Fraser Health to support site to screen all staff
  • providing ongoing staff education by Fraser Health and facility based staff
  • priority access to necessary supplies such as masks, eye protection and gowns
  • grouping of staff and residents to prevent cross over between well and sick individuals

Your loved one may be required to isolate based on their exposure and COVID-19 vaccination status. We know that staying away form your loved one is very difficult and we appreciate your cooperation with the goal of keeping residents, staff and medical staff healthy.

Our staff will continue to provide care and services to our residents to enhance their safety and well-being while maintaining routines where it is safe to do so. We will also keep you up-to-date on any changes related to your family member’s health status.

For general information about COVID-19, call 811, or visit HealthLinkBC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/coronavirus-covid-19.

If you have further questions, please contact Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment, 604.851.4020

September 23, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK/ TERRACE WEST EXPOSURE – New COVID positive = 0 (T=9)

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COVID UPDATE – September 23, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak / Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 9 (8 residents TE / 1 resident TW | 0 staff)

PASSED AWAY TODAY: 0 (T=1 resident TE)

We are sorry to report that Terrace West is now on OUTBREAK. As per the Medical Health Officer’s recommendation, Public Health has now placed Menno Terrace West (Independent Living) on outbreak. We will know more tomorrow how families can support their loved one while on outbreak. Fraser Health will be providing staff for additional support in the apartment building. Please pray for the residents of Terrace East who are on their 11th day of isolation. Please pray for the residents of Terrace West as they, too, begin their time on isolation. Please pray for the staff as they navigate not only the infection control protocols at work, but also in their own homes and lives.

We are waiting for four resident’s swabs to come back from the PPT testing that was done in Terrace East on Sept. 21st. All received so far are negative! The same is true for the staff PPT results. These come more slowly as the results are reported through a different process. So far, also all negative!

What do Outbreak precautions entail?

No social visitors in Terrace West

Enhanced cleaning throughout

Meals provided to the tenants apartment suites

No gathering together, no dining together, no group activities

2 meter distancing to be maintained as much as possible

Staff cohorted to one building or one floor if possible

Restricted movement of staff and residents

Daily symptom checks for all residents

Signage placed at entrance to indicate Outbreak

Symptomatic residents will be tested and isolated – twice daily COVID symptom checks

Isolation carts with PPE outside symptomatic, COVID positive or isolation resident’s apartment suites

Staff actively symptom monitoring at start of shift by screener and self-monitoring

Symptomatic staff remain at home until tests results are received and they are cleared to return to work

Follow up guidance daily by Public Health and the Medical Health Officer. Additional liaison supports provided to Menno Place.