柯文彬省議員辦公室關於恆福護理院疫情防控資訊-1月5日更新

恆福護理院疫情管理進展報告

今天，恆福護理院繼續取得進展與改善。我們致力於加強對院友的安全護理與支持，並盡快穩定護理院內的疫情。

截至2021年1月5日恆福護理院新冠確診病例

自12月29日始，未出現新的新冠陽性確診病例。儘管未有新的確診病例亦無院友出現症狀的情況著實令人鼓舞，病例增加仍是可能的。我們一定會及時更新有關資訊。

目前院友有59宗活躍病例，53位院友已康復，意味著他們自確診之日10日後再無新冠肺炎症狀。

此外，目前有68名員工康復，37名員工已重返工作崗位，還有更多員工將在未來數日陸續重返工作崗位。現在仍有18名員工在家隔離。

我們悲傷地報告，自昨日起，恆福護理院院友又增(4)人因新冠肺炎而離世。在疫情爆發期間，恆福護理院新冠肺炎死亡總數升至68人。

人員配備

自1月1日以來，所有類別的人員配置均高於基線，這包括私人護理、護士（註冊護士和註冊精神病學護士）、保潔員、膳食管理及其他人員，以滿足當今所有單位的護理需求。院內一直有足夠的醫生人數。護理院員工與院友比例高於12月疫情爆發前，因為需要增添人手來滿足新冠肺炎患者的臨床與個人護理需求。

我們的目標仍是留住熟悉院友的員工，以保持護理的一貫性與持續性。我們在這方面正取得良好進展。迄今為止，已有37名恆福護理院一線工作人員返回崗位，預計未來數日將有更多員工重返工作崗位。

所有新員工和返崗員工都需經過感染預防和控制以及院友安全護理的教育及再教育，以確保達到長期護理院所應具備的所有標準。

新冠疫情在恆福護理院及省內外的安老院爆發，最令人費解的問題之一，就是為什麼在院內防疫和疾控水平已顯著提高並具備較完善的臨床護理的情況下，院友卻仍會病逝。正如北約克全科醫院感染預防和控制醫學總監Kevin Katz醫生所述，新冠肺炎的潛伏期長達14天。也就是說，即便在自接管當日已開始完美無誤地採取更多有效措施的最佳情況下，預計實施這些強化防控措施之後近兩周，病例仍會增加。在12月的第三和第四周，北約克全科醫院接管之前，新冠肺炎已在恆福護理院迅速蔓延。

染疫的自然過程，是患者在最初的7到10天出現輕度症狀。過了這個臨界點，一些院友得以康復，而儘管醫護人員奮力救治，一部分院友還是出現了併發症而不幸病逝。

為恆福護理院的院友及員工接種新冠疫苗

隨著省府未來幾周新冠疫苗接種工作在安省各地的長期護理院逐步展開，北約克全科醫院正與多倫多公共衛生局協調，以確認恆福護理院院友、醫務工作者以及基本護理人員的疫苗接種日期。

如需獲得更多資訊，請聯繫：

Janine Hopkins

首席聯絡官

北約克全科醫院

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416 528-2348

Progress report on the outbreak management at Tendercare

Progress and improvements continue today at the long-term care home to enhance safe care and support for residents and resolve the outbreak as quickly as possible.

COVID-19 Cases - as of January 5, 2021 at Tendercare LTC Home

There have been no new positive resident cases since December 29. While the lack of both new lab-confirmed cases and new symptomatic residents is certainly positive, it is possible that additional cases may be detected. We will obviously update you with any new information we receive.  

Today there are 59 residents with active COVID cases in the home and 53 residents with resolved cases, indicating that it has been 10 days since their lab test confirming COVID-19 and the individual is no longer showing COVID-19 symptoms. 

Also today, 68 staff have resolved cases and 37 have returned to work at the home with more returning in the coming days. At this time, 18 staff members have COVID-19 and are isolating at home.

Since yesterday, we are sad to report that four (4) residents have passed away from COVID-19.  The total number of individuals who have died from COVID-19 during the outbreak is 68.

Staffing

Staffing has been above baseline since January 1 for all categories including PSWs, nursing (RNs and RPNs) housecleaning, dietary and other staff to meet current patient care needs on all units. There continues to be very good physician coverage in the home. The ratio of staff to residents is higher than it was before the December outbreak at the long-term care home as these additional staff are required to meet the clinical and personal care needs of the residents with COVID-19.

The goal continues to be to retain consistent, ongoing staff who are familiar with the residents. In this respect, good progress is being made, with 37 Tendercare frontline staff members returning to work so far and more expected in the coming days.

All new and returning staff are educated and re-educated on all infection prevention and control and safe resident care practices, to ensure all long-term care home standards are met.

One of the most difficult aspects of the COVID outbreak at Tendercare and in homes across the province and elsewhere is understanding why residents die despite very significant improvements in infection prevention and control practices and high levels of clinical care.

As explained by Dr. Kevin Katz, Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control at North York General Hospital, the incubation period for COVID-19 is up to 14 days. That means that even in the best-case scenario where additional effective measures were perfectly put in place on day one, additional cases are expected for nearly two weeks from when these enhanced infection and control measures were put in place. There was widespread transmission at Tendercare during the third and fourth week in December just prior to NYGH becoming significantly involved.

The natural course of infection is for people to have mild symptoms for the first 7 to 10 days. Beyond that point, some residents resolve their infection while others have complications and pass away despite the heroic efforts of health professionals.

Vaccination of Tendercare residents and staff
NYGH is working with Toronto Public Health to confirm the date that Tendercare residents, health care workers and essential caregivers will be vaccinated as part of the Ontario Government’s vaccination roll out in LTC homes over the next few weeks.

For more information contact:

Janine Hopkins
Chief Communications Officer
North York General Hospital
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416 528-2348