September 14, 2022
Hello everyone,
It has been some time since I have reached out with communications related to COVID-19. With life seemingly returned to normal, I felt it necessary to advise you of specific guidelines that our sector must continue to abide by as well as those that Seasons will continue to adopt as part of infection control best practices.
Most of our residents and team members are up-to-date with their COVID-19 booster shots. As a result, while we continue to see infections and outbreaks, the number of individuals impacted is far fewer. Many display no or minor symptoms and often recover within a few days.
Last week, Health Canada approved the Moderna/Spikevax COVID-19, which will offer more targeted protection against the Omicron variants. As per previous rollouts, Seasons’ residents, team members, and essential visitors will be given priority when accessing these boosters. We remain committed to supporting the highest possible vaccination rates amongst all living, working and visiting a Seasons community. Therefore we strongly encourage rolling up your sleeve as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Additional communication regarding availability for the new booster and flu shot at a location close to you will be coming shortly.
While most provincial masking requirements have been lifted, masking will still be required in retirement homes and long-term care.
Seasons team members will continue to wear masks, and residents are encouraged to wear a mask whenever they are not in their suites, especially when they leave our premises. A reminder to families that masks covering the nose and mouth must be worn for the duration of a visit at Seasons.
Residents continue to be screened daily as part of our infection control practices. Residents are asked to notify a team member should they feel unwell or know they have been exposed to a COVID- 19 positive individual or someone with symptoms of COVID-19.
Visitors must complete a REVISED screening tool before entering one of our communities. Seasons continues to maintain our visitor management system that families and friends are asked to access for booking their visits. A reminder that all visitors are requested to review the documentation and/or videos regarding putting on and taking off PPE and handwashing at least monthly. You can access these resources on Cubigo or ask your community directly.
All visitors experiencing signs or symptoms of any illness, including but not limited to Influenza and COVID-19, are asked to kindly reschedule their visits.
While visitors who have tested positive but are asymptomatic are no longer required to isolate, they should mask and avoid vulnerable individuals and settings such as ours for ten days from the test date.
Visitors who are asymptomatic and known to be in close contact with a COVID-19-positive case are no longer required to isolate. However, they should mask and avoid vulnerable individuals and settings such as ours for ten days from the test date.
Seasons Retirement Communities remains committed to partnering with our Local Public Health Unit when a home experiences COVID-19 exposure. Generally, residents exposed to positive COVID-19 individuals must isolate until they receive a negative molecular test on or after day 5 of exposure. If negative, the isolation may be discontinued while closely monitored for ten days.
As per the Ministry of Health, a confirmed outbreak in a home is defined as: “two or more residents and/or staff/other visitors with a positive molecular test OR rapid antigen test result AND with an epidemiological link, within ten days.”
Please rest assured that Seasons Retirement Communities remain committed to following all government directives, meeting or exceeding their required COVID-19 infection prevention and control protocols for congregate care settings. Thank you all for your ongoing patience and cooperation, as it takes a collective effort to minimize the spread of this relentless virus.
Sincerely,
LeighAnne Voll
Chief Operating Officer
Seasons Retirement Communities