Two more residents of a Victoria long-term care home have died after becoming infected with COVID-19.
A total of six COVID-related deaths have been reported at Sunset Lodge since an outbreak was declared on Aug. 27, chief medical health officer Dr. Richard Stanwick said Tuesday. The latest two deaths occurred over the weekend and were reported by the province on Monday.
Island Health in a statement shared its “deepest condolences with the friends, family and care staff of these individuals.”
Stanwick has said all the residents at the facility, owned and operated by the Salvation Army, were vaccinated.
Fifteen staff and 21 residents have been infected since the outbreak was declared.
Island Health said a rapid-response team remains at the home for support. Admissions, transfers and social visits are on hold during the outbreak, the health authority said. Resident and staff movement is being limited and all staff are required to wear masks and eye protection.
The Sunset Lodge outbreak is one of 24 in B.C. health-care facilities. It is the only one in the Island Health region.
B.C. health officials reported 677 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death on Tuesday, as the number of active infections in the province ticked up to 6,165.
Eighty-six new cases were recorded in Island Health, which has 627 known active cases. The region has 26 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 16 in intensive care.
Close to one-third of the cases reported on Tuesday were located in the Fraser Health region with 1,948. Health Minister Adrian Dix said Northern Health has the most cases per capita.
Of 288 people hospitalized with the illness, 140 were in intensive care.
The Health Ministry says 78.5 per cent of eligible B.C. residents age 12 and up have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, while 86 per cent have had at least one.
ceharnett@timescolonist.com
— With a file from The Canadian Press
