We know many in the community are concerned about the safety and well-being of loved ones at our Providence Care Hospital and Providence Manor sites.

I wanted to take the time to inform you that we do have staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19 at both sites.

At this time no patient, client or resident at any of our sites have tested positive for COVID-19.

I want to assure you we are implementing every safety precaution possible at all Providence Care sites to protect your loved ones and our staff.

We know these are stressful times but please know our teams are doing everything in their power to keep our staff and the people who entrust us with their care safe and protected.

These are unprecedented times but we are actively monitoring all Providence Care sites and working diligently with Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health to help limit the spread of the virus.

While we’re doing our best to keep the public informed, our number one priority is the safety of our staff and the people we serve, and making sure we’re communicating to them the most up to date information first.

Below you will find the latest information about the COVID-19 positive cases and what measures Providence Care has implemented.

As healthcare providers we know it’s our job to protect the health and well-being of the people we serve, and believe me that’s exactly what our teams are doing.

Even during these uncertain times, our commitment to enhancing the quality of life of the people we serve is as strong as ever.

Rest assured we are implementing every precaution possible to ensure all Providence Care sites remain safe places to work and receive care.

We sincerely thank the community for its cooperation during this challenging time.

I also would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all Providence Care staff. I’m so proud of our staff.

They’ve rallied together and individuals are stepping up in every department across the region and going beyond the call of duty to ensure the people who rely on us the most, get the care they need, when they need it.

Sincerely,

Cathy Szabo, Providence Care President and CEO

News Release

Date: April 1, 2020

Additional Providence Care staff test positive for COVID-19

On Mar. 31, 2020, Providence Care received confirmation a Providence Manor staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health was notified immediately and following the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s directive, an outbreak was declared on one of the resident home areas at Providence Manor.

“There are no residents with COVID-19 at this time, but we are closely monitoring individuals on the impacted resident home area. In addition to our infection prevention measures already in place including actively screening all staff daily prior to their shifts, those working on the impacted resident home area will also wear appropriate personal protective equipment while caring for individuals for their safety,” says Cathy Szabo, Providence Care President & CEO.

All staff, residents and their family members that met the criteria for close contact have been informed about the confirmed case and the subsequent outbreak, and will be monitored for the next 14 days for signs and symptoms.

Providence Care has also reached out to all residents at the long-term care home and their family members to inform them about the positive case.

“I want to ensure families and the community we are implementing every safety precaution possible at Providence Manor to protect their loved ones and our staff. We know these are stressful times but please know our teams are doing everything in their power to keep people safe,” says Szabo.

Providence Manor continues to enforce strict visitor restrictions. Currently only essential visitors are permitted at the long-term care home.

Also on Mar. 31, 2020, an additional staff member at Providence Care Hospital tested positive for COVID-19. In total there are three Providence Care Hospital staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Working alongside KFL&A Public Health, all staff and patients identified as having met the criteria for close contact with the confirmed cases, have been contacted and placed on quarantine to monitor for signs and symptoms over the next 14 days.

No patient at Providence Care Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19 and there has been no further staff transmission identified at this time.

Currently only essential visitors are permitted at Providence Care Hospital.

For confidentiality reasons Providence Care is not able to share any identifiable or additional information on any of the confirmed COVID-19 cases or potential cases.

To help limit the spread of infection both Providence Care Hospital and Providence Manor have implemented several additional measures including:

• Infection Prevention and Control and Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness are investigating and following up with individuals who had close contact with the confirmed cases.
• Any staff and patients/clients/residents that came in close contact with the confirmed cases are being contacted and placed on quarantine to monitor for signs and symptoms over the next 14 days.
• Families have been contacted to inform them about the outbreak at Providence Manor and quarantine at Providence Care Hospital.
• Enhanced housekeeping measures

“These are unprecedented times but we are actively monitoring all Providence Care sites and working diligently to ensure our staff and the people who entrust us with their care are safe and protected. While we’re doing our best to keep the public informed our number one priority is the safety of our staff and the people we serve, and making sure we’re communicating to them the most up to date information first,” says Szabo.

Quick Facts

• The ‘quarantine’ at Providence Care Hospital and the ‘outbreak’ at Providence Manor have the same measures in place with guidance from KFL&A Public Health, to protect all staff and the people we serve. However, Providence Manor must follow directives set out by the Ministry of Long-Term Care which states, if a staff member at a long-term care home tests positive for COVID-19 the long-term care home must declare an outbreak on the impacted area.
• No patient, client or resident at any Providence Care site has tested positive for COVID-19 including Providence Care Hospital and Providence Manor.
• All Providence Care staff at all sites are actively screened daily, both prior to their shift and upon reentry.
• Essential visitors are defined as those who have a loved one who is end-of-life or very ill. Essential visitors will continue to be actively screened before entering Providence Care Hospital or Providence Manor.

About Providence Care:
Providence Care is Southeastern Ontario’s leading provider of specialized care in aging, mental health and rehabilitation. The organization operates Providence Care Hospital, a long-term care home (Providence Manor) and several community-based rehabilitation and mental health services across the region. To find out more about Providence Care, visit ProvidenceCare.ca or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information, contact:
Nikki Jhutti
Communications Officer
Phone: 613-544-4900 ext. 53372
Email: jhuttin@providencecare.ca or info@providencecare.ca