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Five new COVID outbreaks declared by Island Health

The health authority also announced three previous outbreaks had ended on Saturday
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Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital is one of five sites to have newly declared COVID outbreaks, according to Island Health. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health has announced three long-term care facility COVID outbreaks are over while also declaring new outbreaks at several sites in Greater Victoria.

In a news release Saturday, the health authority said new outbreaks have been declared at four long-term care facilities and at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.

The outbreak at Selkirk Seniors Village Assisted Living is limited to the sixth floor of the site’s assisted living side and is unrelated to an existing outbreak on the third floor of the seniors living side of the facility. One resident has tested positive in relation to the new outbreak.

Three staff cases and two resident cases led to the declaration of an outbreak at the Luther Court long-term care home, which is limited to the 2 East unit of the facility.

One staff case and one resident case have been attributed to the outbreak at The Heights at Mt. View facility, which is limited to the fourth floor.

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The James Bay Care Centre outbreak is limited to the fifth and sixth floors, and three resident cases have been attributed so far.

At the Royal Jubilee Hospital, three patient cases have been attributed to the outbreak, which is limited to the 8 South East general medicine unit. Island Health said it is still safe to seek care at the hospital, and people should not avoid seeking emergency care if they need it.

All cases announced Saturday by Island Health in connection with the newly announced outbreaks have been confirmed either through PCR testing or through the authority’s case and contact management team.

At each facility, Island Health said no transfers are being made or group activities allowed in the affected units, staff movements are being limited wherever possible, and COVID tests are being distributed “as determined by the medical health officer and infection prevention and control” protocols.

Only essential visitors are allowed to Island Health care homes according to provincial health policy, including at long-term care homes facing outbreaks.

Island Health also said three previously announced outbreaks on Vancouver Island have been declared over.

The outbreak at Eden Gardens in Nanaimo ended with four resident cases being attributed to it, and the outbreak never spread beyond the second-floor Cypress Unit.

The outbreak at the Kiwanis Village Lodge, also in Nanaimo, ended with one resident case being attributed. That outbreak did not spread beyond the first floor.

The outbreak at Victoria’s Amica Douglas House resulted in four staff cases and no spread beyond the second floor.

“Staff at all of these homes are to be commended for their excellent work delivering high quality, compassionate care under challenging circumstances,” read the release. “Outbreak protocols will now be ended at the sites. Enhanced infection prevention and control measures and monitoring of staff and residents for symptoms will continue.”

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