December 31, 2020
Dear Health & Transition Services Families,
By way of an update, as of today, we have no new cases of COVID-19 in people supported or in staff. We are awaiting 1 test result in those supported, someone who recently returned to us from hospital. The protocol is to test everyone on return from hospital and maintain self-isolation for 14 days. We anticipate this test result coming back negative within the next day or so.
Our red cohort zone for positive COVID-19 is currently empty. We have expanded the zone to be able to accommodate up to 25 people, and a group from Shared Health is touring the zone today. We hope that it won’t be needed, but we are ready just in case.
A reminder to book your visits for one of two new visitation spaces on the main floor. There have been a good number of visits throughout the holiday season and there are a number of bookings through this long weekend. We are so glad that you are able to visit in this way, as safely as possible.
Manitoba’s immunization program is beginning to roll out. Our staff who are health care workers, who provide hands on care, who were born on or before Dec. 31, 1969 and work in long term care (H&TS is part of the long term care program) are now eligible to receive the vaccine against COVID-19. Additionally, the province is planning for residents of long term care facilities throughout the province to receive their vaccine. We are awaiting further details, along with the consent forms and information packages and as soon as they are received, we will forward to you. We are told that there will be an opportunity for you to speak with a health care provider to discuss the vaccine and to provide your informed consent. The plan is for residents in long term care to receive the Moderna vaccine in two doses, beginning as early as the second week of January. Stay tuned for more information! This will be the largest immunization program in our lifetimes – another first in the life of this pandemic.
Thank you for your continued support. We wish you all a healthy and happy 2021!
Be well,
Joanne van Dyck, Senior Manager
