COVID-19 Update Mar 2, 2021: Updated Vaccine Eligibility & Weekly Milestones

March 2, 2021

Hello everyone,

Today’s memo reflects a number of important milestones.

First, I am so pleased to share that both of the outbreaks at Seasons Camrose in Alberta and Seasons Clarington in Ontario have been rescinded.  I want to extend a special note of gratitude to the staff, residents and families at both locations for their patience and their ongoing commitment to our health and safety protocols. At Seasons Camrose specifically, this was a long and challenging road and the end of the outbreak is certainly a welcome relief.  This news means we have no Seasons communities in outbreak to report on this week.

Second, March marks one year since the start of the pandemic in Canada.  Since the beginning, Seasons has implemented safety measures and followed the directives set forth by our provincial governments, sector regulators and local public health units.  We have come a long way, learned much and evolved with the most current protocols.  There is no denying the fact that the impact on our daily lives has been significant.  Everyone has had to make sacrifices in the name of keeping our staff and residents safe.  As a small thank you for placing their trust in Seasons, our residents and staff will be receiving a tasty surprise next week.

Ontario.   For information on what phase your region falls into, visit their website. The Retirement Home Regulatory Authority (RHRA) has a scenario matrix for visiting retirement communities.  Please visit their website for information on the current visitor and resident absence directive.

This week, our Ontario residences fall into the following zones:

• Red: Seasons Amherstburg, Seasons Royal Oak Village, Seasons Belle River, Seasons Stoney Creek, Seasons Clarington, Seasons Cambridge, Seasons Milton, Seasons Welland
• Orange: Seasons Brantford, Seasons St. Thomas, Seasons Strathroy
• Green: Seasons Owen Sound, Seasons Dufferin Centre

Alberta. For more information on the status in Alberta, visit their website.

As I have noted in my previous memos, there are new COVID variants present in Ontario and Alberta that are proving to be even easier to transmit.  As a result, we know we need to be extra vigilant with our infection prevention and control (IPAC) protocols in order to ensure the health of our staff and residents.

We continue to ask all residents to:

• Self-isolate for 14 days if you did not follow provincial requests to remain on-site, instead choosing to visit with friends and/or family at another household, especially where infection prevention and control protocols were not followed
• Wear a mask continuously when you are not in your suite
• Practice good hand hygiene and physical distancing
• If you feel unwell, report it immediately to a Seasons Team Member

We continue to ask all Designated Visitors to:

• Review our infection prevention and control training tools as required monthly
• Not visit a Seasons Community for 14 days if you visited with family and/or friends from another household within the last week
• Wear a mask continuously while visiting a Seasons resident (this means not eating or drinking while you are visiting)
• Practice good hand hygiene and physical distancing
• If, after your visit, you become symptomatic or are notified that you had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual, please contact Seasons immediately

On-site Rapid Testing.  There will be a phased approach to rolling out Onsite Rapid Testing Clinics for team members as per provincial directives. We hope to be able to include designated family/caregiver & support persons as soon as feasible.  We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.

COVID-19 Vaccine.   Just a reminder that Seasons does not coordinate these dates, they are set by Public Health and/or Alberta Health Services.   As soon as we are informed of the dates, we will advise all stakeholders; please keep in mind that sometimes we get very little notice.

A note to our Essential Visitors:  Where eligible, some of you are on the list for the COVID-19 vaccination.  We understand the frustration of having to wait. In some instances, we still have some staff and Designated Caregivers waiting for their first dose.  Again, where, when and which individuals get their vaccines is not up to Seasons, but rather a decision made by our local Public Health Departments.  We will advise you of your turn, as soon as possible.

Alberta Vaccination Eligibility & Clinic Dates:

Ontario Vaccination Eligibility & Clinic Dates:

As we roll out the vaccines to more Seasons communities, we must remain vigilant.  The immunity provided by the vaccine is not fully effective until after the second dose is administered, and even that dose does not guarantee immediate efficacy.  Even if a resident has received two doses, visitors must continue to follow our protocols including health screening, continuous masking, good hand hygiene and physical distancing.

Please rest assured that Seasons Retirement Communities remains focused on the health and safety of our staff and residents.  We know you have many choices for where you choose to live or work; thank you for choosing Seasons.  We take our responsibility to you very seriously.

There is certainly light at the end of this tunnel, and much to be hopeful about.  We know that it takes the collective effort of our staff, residents and families to keep our communities safe from COVID-19.  Thank you all for your continued cooperation.

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