December 8, 2021
Hello everyone,
The holidays are nearly upon us, and while we deserve to bask in the excitement of celebrations and family gatherings, daily COVID-19 case counts are rising. The Omicron variant is giving everyone yet another cause for concern. As I have done before, I want to remind our team members, residents and families, that it takes a collective effort to keep those who live and work at Seasons safe and healthy.
In both Ontario and Alberta, the Chief Medical Officers of Health caution people about gathering. I encourage everyone to follow current guidelines on group sizes, as it varies by province and region. In all instances, it is good practice to stay home when sick except to get a COVID-19 test, wear masks indoors and get vaccinated if you aren’t already.
We are encouraged by high vaccination rates among our residents and that many have already received a booster. Our mandatory vaccination policy for team members and other preventive protocols ensure we are doing our utmost to protect our communities from this virus.
Unfortunately, we have seen some breakthrough cases (instances where fully vaccinated people contract COVID-19) in our homes. While these individuals may experience milder symptoms, if any, it could trigger an outbreak in our community, which significantly impacts our residents’ day-to-day lives.
I look forward to a time when these considerations are no longer essential. Until then, thank you all for your continued cooperation with our safety protocols. On behalf of us at Seasons Retirement Communities, I wish you all a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.
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