A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Veterans Memorial Lodge long-term care home in Saanich’s Broadmead area, leading to a decision to halt visits.
One staff member tested positive for the virus, and notification of residents, families and other staff is underway.
The staffer with COVID-19 is self-isolating at home, and although the outbreak is confined to one unit, the lodge is closed to admissions.
The lodge, next to Broadmead Village shopping centre, houses 225 seniors and veterans.
Enhanced health measures are in place at the facility and Island Health is working with staff and officials to identify anyone who might have been exposed to COVID-19. Movements of staff and residents are being limited, and cleaning and infection-control are being stepped up.
The outbreak comes just days after a COVID-19 exposure at Sir James Douglas Elementary School in Victoria led to an entire class going into isolation. The exposure at the school of about 450 students happened Nov. 23.
Notifications of exposures are posted when a person with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection is present at a site during the infectious period.
Island Health is doing contact tracing of the person involved.
There have now been three capital region schools with a COVID-19 exposure over the past two weeks; the others are Saanich’s Lakeview Christian School and the Victoria School for Ideal Education.
COVID-19 was also linked recently to four Nanaimo schools, including clusters at Randerson Ridge Elementary and John Barsby Secondary — meaning two or more people were affected at each site.
School exposures in recent weeks were also found in Ladysmith, Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach and Campbell River.
jwbell@timescolonist.com
