February 22, 2021 COVID-19 Update

23 February 2021

22 February 2021

Personal Care Home Update

We are pleased to report there have been no new COVID-19 staff cases announced over the past week.  To date, we have had no RHC Residents test positive for COVID-19.    We continue to closely monitor our Residents, and will test for COVID-19 should any Residents develop symptoms.   

Vaccine Update

On Friday, February 19,  287 RHC Residents received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.  Since then, we have been closely monitoring our Residents for minor reactions, including a sore arm at the injection site, headache, fatigue and nausea.  If a Resident develops any symptoms characteristic of those of COVID-19, out of an abundance of caution they will be isolated and tested, following standard provincial protocols.

Program/Hospital Update

There have been no new reported positive COVID-19 staff cases on our program/hospital side of Riverview Health Centre. 

We currently have one inpatient that tested positive for COVID-19 upon admission to Riverview.   The patient has had no other close or direct patient interaction. All precautions are in place to prevent spread of the virus, and therefore no staff have experienced exposure at this time.

We continue to closely monitor all patients, and will test for COVID-19 should any patients develop symptoms.

Asymptomatic Staff Testing

Beginning February 23, 2021, Riverview Health Centre will begin asymptomatic surveillance testing of staff in addition to the many precautions and preventative measures we already have in place. 

This initiative will use the Abbot Panbio COVID-19 rapid antigen test and will test staff that are showing no symptoms of COVID-19 and have no known exposure to the virus. Participation is voluntary but all eligible staff are encouraged to take part.

It is important to emphasize that in order to be eligible, staff must not have symptoms of COVID-19 or any known exposure to the virus. Staff with symptoms of, or a known exposure to, COVID-19 continue to be required to self-isolate and are not permitted to work until they have been cleared to return.

In the event of a positive test result, the involved staff member will be considered a “probable positive” and will be required to isolate until the results are confirmed by a laboratory test. Public Health contact tracing will begin immediately.

If the test is confirmed positive, the staff member will continue to follow the directions of public health and occupational health services or designate until they are cleared to return to work.

We remain committed to providing your loved one with ongoing care and compassion

and are excited to take part in this new initiative. If you have questions about rapid

testing we encourage you to reach out to us at any time.

Regular updates will continue to be provided on this web page and our covid-19 phone line.  If you have questions specific to your loved one’s health condition, please contact the nursing staff on the unit.

Thank you for your ongoing understanding and support. Sincerely,
RHC Senior Leadership Team