THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (“TBDHU”) is investigating a case of COVID-19 that was reported this weekend. The individual is employed at Pioneer Ridge Long-Term Care home in Thunder Bay.
“Receiving a report of a positive result in someone associated with a LTC facility is always concerning, however, there are a number of facts in this situation that are very reassuring. The investigation is ongoing and we will continue to work with Pioneer Ridge to assess and monitor this situation,” says Dr. Janet DeMille, Medical Officer of Health.
“We will continue to monitor this situation closely and apply all the same precautions and enhanced measures that we have been taking throughout the pandemic,” said Lee Mesic, Administrator, Pioneer Ridge. “Employees of Long-Term Care are used to dealing with enhanced infection control protocols and precautions, and our Home has well-established processes in place that have proven time and again to help limit the spread of infectious illnesses.”
Pioneer Ridge recently tested all staff for COVID-19 as part of the enhanced surveillance initiative currently being implemented in Long-Term Care facilities as part of the provincial testing strategy. The case reported yesterday is the only positive result received at this time.
While the individual is an employee at Pioneer Ridge, the individual does not go into the resident care areas of the facility and does not interact with any of the residents as part of his work. The individual has not had any symptoms and is currently at home self- isolating. No residents or other staff members have been identified as having symptoms.
Pioneer Ridge, like other LTCH facilities, has implemented significant measures to reduce any spread of the COVID-19 virus within the facility.
These measures, which include the wearing of personal protective equipment and physical distancing among staff, were fully in place with this situation. The risk of any transmission of the virus within the facility is deemed to be low at this time. An outbreak is not being declared.
