March 28, 2020
In an effort to be completely transparent, we want to clarify some confusion around the outbreak status at our Welland location.
On March 25, Niagara Region Public Health advised that we had a presumptive case of COVID-19. Seasons immediately took matters to in our own hands and treated the situation as though we did have a confirmed case, by isolating all residents in an abundance of caution. This means residents are receiving daily temperature and wellness checks and all meals to their suites.
On Friday, March 27, Niagara Region Public Health advised that we had a second presumptive case and placed the home in outbreak status.
It is important to know, in both presumptive cases, those individual residents were isolated immediately when they presented symptoms and team members used PPE when delivering care and wellness checks. They are now in hospital, we are in contact with their families, and our thoughts are with them.
Regardless of what Public Health included in their press release on March 27, it was not until Saturday, March 28 that Niagara Region Public Health advised that Seasons should go ahead and consider these cases confirmed.
Please rest assured that the health and safety of our staff and residents is our greatest priority. We have been working closely with Niagara Region Public Health to contain the spread of the virus and we will continue to ask for transparency and alignment when messaging to our community in the future.
We know these are complicated times and I understand that you may be worried. Please rest assured that we remain vigilant in our infection control policies and procedures. All decisions are being made with our staff and residents’ best interests in mind.
Thank you for the trust you have placed in Seasons Retirement Communities.
Sincerely,
Michael Lavallée,
Chief Executive Officer