April 6, 2021
Hello, everyone.
I hope you all enjoyed a safe and happy Easter weekend.
Let me begin by updating you on the outbreak situations we are currently dealing with at Seasons Lethbridge Gardens in Alberta and Seasons Clarington in Ontario. Please refer to your site-specific updates and communication for current outbreak protocols and restrictions in place at your homes for our staff, residents, and families at these locations.
Seasons High River. I am pleased to share that the outbreak at Seasons High River was rescinded last week.
Seasons Lethbridge Gardens. We continue to have zero active cases at this time. Given these results, we hope Alberta Health Services (AHS) will lift our outbreak status soon.
Seasons Clarington was placed into outbreak status on April 2 as a result of one positive staff case.
Residents deemed to have been in contact with the staff member were tested first; additional testing is happening this week.
ONTARIO
As you know, the provincial government announced a province-wide shutdown effective Saturday, April 3 at 12:01 a.m. for at least four weeks. The current COVID-19 Response Framework (colour zones) will be paused when this comes into effect. Retirement homes must adhere to the policies and procedures under the ‘Grey (Lockdown) or Shutdown’ column in the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) ‘s Scenario Matrix, found here.
ALBERTA
We continue to use the Risk Assessment tool to guide protocols and restrictions in our retirement homes in Alberta. If there is transmission of COVID-19 in the local community, that will indicate a greater risk to our residents and therefore we will be firm in enforcing safety protocols. For an update on the status in Alberta, you can visit this link to Alberta Health.
Seasons residents, I know you have sacrificed a great deal this past year. I completely understand your frustration with these ongoing restrictions, especially given that so many of you stepped up and accepted the vaccine at the first opportunity to do so. We see the high vaccination and low COVID-19 positivity rates among Seasons residents as an opportunity to educate the general public on the benefits of getting the vaccine.
We advocate on your behalf to our sector regulators and government bodies that these high vaccination/low positivity rates are reason to amend certain restrictions to benefit our residents’ overall well-being. The increase of Variants of Concern (VOCs) and the added risk they pose mean we have a ways to go before restrictions can be lifted and return to operation as usual.
I want to thank residents and their families for the trust you have placed in Seasons and your ongoing patience and cooperation. We will continue to follow all health and safety protocols while advocating for our residents’ overall well-being.
Sincerely,
LeighAnne Voll
Chief Operating Officer,
Seasons Retirement Communities
For additional online resources for COVID-19 you can visit the following sites:
Canada Health
Alberta Health
Alberta Health Services
Public Health Ontario
Retirement Home Regulatory Authority