A London retirement home that is more than two weeks into a declared outbreak of COVID-19 has reported 14 new cases of the virus.
The Middlesex London Health Unit said it has received confirmation of the new cases at Grand Wood Park Retirement Residence. An outbreak at the residence was declared on March 31 after two residents tested positive for the virus. Outbreaks are declared at long term care facilities and retirement homes when a single case of the infection is reported.
The latest cases at Grand Wood Park were confirmed after the health unit called for testing of all residents and staff at the home.
"The Health Unit notified Grand Wood Park administration of the positive cases yesterday and followed up with an assessment of the infection prevention and control measures currently in place at the residence and found them to be satisfactory," the health unit said in a news release issued Friday. "All remaining staff and residents who have not yet been tested are in the process of being swabbed."
According to the health unit, there will be risk assessments done at all long term care facilities and retirement homes in London and Middlesex County over the weekend.
“This increase in the number of cases at Grand Wood Park gives us a better picture of what is going on in some of our long-term care homes and retirement residences and actually helps increase our understanding of how the coronavirus behaves in these facilities,” said Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Alex Summers. “Where we have declared COVID-19 outbreaks in these facilities, we’ve asked that aggressive testing be done with all residents and staff, even those who are asymptomatic. I expect this will result in more cases but will also help in preventing further spread.”
The Middlesex London Health Unit reported 24 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing in the total in the region to 282. There have been 16 deaths attributed to the coronavirus in London and Middlesex County since the pandemic began.
There were no new cases reported Friday by Southwestern Public Health, which covers Oxford and Elgin Counties.
