A resident of a Campbell River retirement home has tested positive for COVID-19.
Berwick Retirement Communities announced the positive case in their Campbell River independent living facility in a statement on its website.
It said the individual has been self-isolating in their room since they returned to the independent living facility on March 24. They did not provide details on where the person had returned from.
Island Health confirmed that the person鈥檚 close contacts have been notified, according to the facility鈥檚 statement.
鈥淏erwick Retirement Communities and Berwick by the Sea is working with Island Health to take the necessary steps to protect the health and well-being of all residents and staff, as well as those in the broader community,鈥� the statement says.
Staff are monitoring the situation and have been preparing for a case of COVID-19. Outbreak protocols were put in place last week 鈥渙ut of an abundance of caution.鈥�
鈥淲e are taking every step possible to ensure the virus is contained. The health and safety of our residents and staff is a top priority for Berwick Retirement Communities,鈥� the statement says.
The facility says the case is a reminder that COVID-19 is not isolated to any one region and that everyone needs to follow the directions of public health authorities to stay home as much as possible, maintain two metres distance from others when going outside, wash your hands and self-isolate if you develop symptoms or have travelled.
Residents of the retirement home are a vulnerable population to COVID-19, which tends to affect more severely people over 65 or with underlying medical conditions.
Residents live independently with assistance at the home and it is not considered a long-term care home. Many of sa国际传媒鈥檚 COVID-19 fatalities have been residents of long-term care homes. There are 12 long-term care homes in the Lower Mainland that have at least one resident or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19.
