Update: Outbreak ended – COVID-19 outbreak declared at Providence Manor

Update (Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022):
The COVID-19 outbreak in the Sydenham 5 resident area of Providence Manor has now ended, Providence Care relayed on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022.

The outbreak, which was originally declared on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, began when three residents of Sydenham 5 within Providence Manor tested positive for COVID-19.

“All 29 residents who live on Sydenham 5 were placed on contact and aerosol precautions, monitored closely for symptoms and tested for the virus multiple times throughout the outbreak. All test results are now negative,” Providence Care said in a press release.

“Staff members participated in on-going surveillance testing for the duration of the outbreak. All recent results are negative.”

Providence Care noted that the outbreak has also been officially declared over by Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health, as well, and that all residents of the long-term care home and their families have been notified of this. The restrictions put in place as a result of the outbreak have now been lifted.

According to Providence Care, the following safety measures remain in place at Providence Manor:

• All staff members are actively screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms, and must also wear appropriate personal protective equipment, practice physical distancing and good hand hygiene.
• All staff members, essential caregivers and designated care partners must participate in COVID-19 surveillance testing every other day. Essential visitors (those visiting critically ill or residents at end-of-life) must be tested upon entry to the home.
• Only essential caregivers, designated care partners and essential visitors are permitted to enter Providence Manor. General visitors are not permitted at this time.
• All visitors must pass screening. If they do not pass screening, they will not be permitted to enter. Individuals who pass screening must wear a mask at all times for the duration of their visit.
• As per a Ministry of Long-Term Care directive, all essential visitors who are not fully vaccinated must participate in mandatory on-site COVID-19 surveillance testing. Proof of vaccination is required upon entry for essential caregivers and designated care partners.

Original article:
Providence Care has declared a COVID-19 outbreak on Sydenham 5, a resident home area at Providence Manor, after residents tested positive for the virus.

The outbreak was declared after 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, after three residents tested positive during routine testing on the same date. Sydenham 5 is under quarantine and all 29 residents have been placed on contact and aerosol precautions, according to a release from Providence Care.

The outbreak measures will be in place for a minimum of 14 days, during which time Sydenham 5 residents will be closely monitored and re-tested for COVID-19. Staff who –worked on Sydenham 5 during the last week will also be tested for the virus, Providence Care said.

The healthcare agency has alerted Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health about the positive cases and said they are working closely with teams there. An investigation is also underway to determine how the residents contracted the virus.

All three positive residents are asymptomatic at this time. The other Sydenham 5 residents also aren’t showing signs or symptoms of the virus. Providence Care has also reached out to all residents and their loved ones at the long-term care home to inform them about the positive case, according to the release.

For confidentiality reasons, Providence Care said that they are not able to share any identifiable or additional information about the cases.

According to Providence Care, to help limit the spread of infection, the long-term care home has implemented several additional measures including:

• Sydenham 5 is closed to admissions.
• General visitors are temporarily prohibited. Only one essential visitor (those with a loved one nearing end-of-life), designated care partner or essential caregiver is permitted to visit Sydenham 5 at a time. Visitors must conduct a rapid antigen test and get a negative test result before they may enter the home, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the duration of their visit.
• Any staff members who have been working on Sydenham 5 are being tested and monitored for signs and symptoms.
• Care teams are closely monitoring all Providence Manor residents to identify potential cases early.
• Enhanced housekeeping measures are in place including extra cleaning of all high touch surfaces and common areas.
• Staff with ongoing exposure to the unit will participate in daily rapid antigen testing for the duration of the outbreak. 
• As per a Ministry of Long-Term Care directive, all general and essential visitors who are not fully vaccinated must participate in mandatory on-site COVID-19 surveillance testing.

Providence Care is a healthcare provider in southeastern Ontario, providing specialized care in aging, mental health and rehabilitation. The organization consists of Providence Care Hospital, Providence Transitional Care Centre, Providence Manor long-term care home, and more than 20 community-based support and mental health services across the region.