Village on the St. Clair (Website photo)Village on the St. Clair (Website photo)
Sarnia

COVID-positive cases at Sarnia retirement home rising rapidly

An outbreak at Village on the St. Clair Retirement Home in Sarnia is growing at an alarming rate.

Lambton Public Health said the number of infected residents has increased from seven Monday to 18. Five staff at the Front Street South home have also tested positive for the virus.

There is a total of 11 long-term care outbreaks in Sarnia-Lambton affecting nine facilities. Twin Lakes Terrace Long-Term Care Home still has 12 cases among residents, unchanged from Monday, and two staff members infected. One staff member has tested positive at Twin Lakes Terrace Retirement Home.

An update from Lambton Public Health Tuesday said the first phase of its vaccine rollout is projected to start in early February and will target the most vulnerable group, the residents and staff of long-term care and retirement homes. The Sarnia Primary Control Group was told that public health staff are actively working with the long-term care sector to ensure that residents and staff are ready to receive the vaccine when it's available.

Three more COVID-positive patients were admitted to Bluewater Health in the last 24 hours for a total of 12.

Communications Chief Julia Oosterman said there was one patient in intensive care, adding that they're seeing more admissions from long-term care and anticipate that trend will continue.

For the second day in a row, Lambton Public Health reported 85 new confirmed cases of the virus, for a total of 1,394 since March. The number of new cases in the past month, since December 13, has increased by 947 and the rate per 100,000 population is at 231.

The health unit said 61 more cases have been deemed resolved for a total of 1,118, putting the active case count at 248, up 24 since Monday.

The number of workplace outbreaks is down to four with a total of 18 cases.

 

-With files from Dave Dentinger

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