SUDBURY -- A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared Tuesday night at Extendicare York in Sudbury, the third long-term care facility in the city to do so.

Ministry direction requires a COVID-19 outbreak to be declared with a single laboratory-confirmed case in a resident or staff member.

In this case, one staff member tested positive and is under active follow up with Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 stands at 58 in Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ service area. This newest case is a woman from Greater Sudbury in her 20s that has not been in contact with a known case of novel coronavirus and has not travelled. She was tested on April 25 and is self-isolating.

Over the weekend, Extendicare York tested all residents and staff as part of the previously announced surveillance testing in long-term care homes.

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Public Health Sudbury & Districts is working closely with Extendicare York to ensure all measures are in place to protect staff and residents. Officials say the risk of infection in the long-term care home remains low. None of the residents who were in contact with this employee is symptomatic. Public health continues to work with all long-term care homes to test staff and residents. 

"Our staff are working with the facility and are actively following up with the individual to provide important public health direction, explore possible exposure settings, and identify any close contacts to further reduce the risk of spreading the virus," said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health with Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

St. Joseph's Villa, near Laurentian University, was the first Sudbury long-term care facility to declare an outbreak on April 19. There are two positive cases reported there, one a staff member and the other a resident.

Pioneer Manor declared an outbreak on Sunday after the first resident at that facility tested positive through surveillance testing. Six more positive cases at the home on Notre Dame Avenue were confirmed Monday, four of which are staff members. After testing more than 800 staff and residents, officials say around 20 per cent of the tests are still outstanding, so there could be more confirmed positive in the coming days. However, management at the home says the people who have tested positive are not showing symptoms.

Public health officials these following actions are being taken in long-term care homes amid the pandemic:

  • Staff and residents follow strict physical distancing guidelines.
  • Group activities are discontinued.
  • Staff screening occurs at the beginning and end of every shift, including temperature checks for fever.
  • All staff and essential visitors wear masks.
  • Residents are assessed three times a day for symptoms. This includes temperature checks.
  • Visitor restrictions have been in effect since the beginning of March.
  • Employees of a long-term care provider cannot also work in any other long-term care home, health service provider, or retirement home.