Two Flin Flon-area seniors’ facilities are now the sites of active COVID-19 outbreaks.
Provincial health officials announced an outbreak at the Flin Flon Personal Care Home during the Nov. 23 COVID-19 media briefing in Winnipeg. A Northern Health Region (NHR) spokesperson confirmed Nov. 23 that a staff member at the home tested positive for the disease. The NHR was made aware of the case Nov. 22.
On the same day, a different staff member, working at the Northern Lights Manor in Flin Flon, also tested positive for COVID-19.
No residents of either facility have tested positive as of Nov. 23. It is unknown if any residents were exposed to either staff member or where the staff members may have acquired the disease.
While no outbreak has been officially announced at the manor by the provincial government, the NHR spokesperson confirmed that outbreak protocols are in effect at both facilities. An outbreak notice for the facility will be issued later this week.
“Public Health declared an outbreak in both facilities and immediately began the process of contact tracing and management of the cases. As a precaution, all residents of both care homes were offered COVID-19 testing - 98 per cent of the residents have been tested. To date, no residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at either location,” said the spokesperson Nov. 23.
The outbreak status will include new, more restrictive measures at the homes. Admissions to both facilities have been suspended and staff are being screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms, according to the NHR spokesperson.
“All staff who are in contact with residents will be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) to further prevent any potential transmission between staff members and residents,” reads the spokesperson’s statement.
