News Release
Date: April 24, 2020
Outbreak over at Providence Manor; resident’s COVID-19 test result was a false positive
After a thorough review and following a joint investigation between Providence Care and Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health, the COVID-19 outbreak on Sydenham 4 at Providence Manor was declared over as of 4:45 p.m., April 24, 2020.
The investigation determined the Sydenham 4 resident who originally tested positive for COVID-19 on April 20, was actually a false positive.
“No test is perfect and with the low number of true COVID-19 cases in the population, the proportion and likelihood of false positive results increase,” says Dr. Kieran Moore, Medical Officer of Health at KFL&A Public Health. “The resident’s first COVID-19 was a weak positive. A weak positive result on a screening test requires clinical correlations to make a final diagnosis for any disease.”
The joint investigation included re-testing the resident for COVID-19 as well as all residents on Sydenham 4. Staff members, identified as being in close contact with the resident, were also tested.
The Sydenham 4 resident was transferred to hospital and tested two additional times for COVID-19. Dr. Gerald Evans, Providence Care’s Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control, and the medical team caring for the patient conducted the subsequent tests at Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s Kingston General Hospital site.
“Both times the test results came back negative. Working together with the internal medicine team and the Infectious Diseases consultant directly involved with the case, we determined the resident’s clinical diagnosis was not consistent with COVID-19 and their original test result was a false positive. Meaning the resident never had COVID-19 and was not infected with the virus,” explained Dr. Evans.
There are 37 residents who reside on Sydenham 4, including the resident whose test result was a false positive. All 36 other residents on Sydenham 4 also tested negatively for COVID-19.
Out of an abundance of caution, Public Health also began testing residents on Montreal 4, because the Resident Home Area is on the same floor as Sydenham 4.
14 residents on Montreal 4 were tested. All test results were negative.
70 staff members who work on Sydenham 4 and Montreal 4 were also tested during the investigation. All test results were negative.
“Our entire organization breathed a collective sigh of relief when all the COVID-19 test results came back negative,” says Cathy Szabo, Providence Care President & CEO. “I’m so proud of the way our teams leaped into action, especially Dr. Evans and our Infection Prevention and Control teams. We were able to implement outbreak measures immediately to protect our residents, and identified which staff needed to be tested and got them to a testing centre right away.”
The resident’s symptoms have since resolved, and they are doing well. The resident remains in hospital. Providence Care, KFL&A Public Health and Ontario Health are working together to determine when the resident can return to Providence Manor safely.
“Since this case was determined to be a false positive, it will be removed from the list of cases on KFL&A Public Health’s dashboard,” said Dr. Moore.
The joint investigation is now complete.
“It’s been a stressful few days for not only Providence Care but also our residents and their loved ones. I’m so pleased we’re able to share this good news with them and help alleviate any fears or anxieties they may have had,” said Szabo. “But the work doesn’t stop here. Providence Care will continue to work with our partners at KFL&A Public Health to ensure we have every protective measure in place at all our sites across the region, to keep our staff and the people we serve safe.”
The following measures are still in place at all Providence Care sites:
- At Providence Care Hospital and Community sites, screening all staff daily. Both prior to their shift and upon all reentries for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
- As per Ministry of Long-Term Care directives, all Providence Manor staff is screened twice a day, at the beginning and end of shifts, as well as all reentries. Screening includes taking temperatures. Staff must also wear masks for the duration of their shifts.
- All Providence Manor staff must wear eye protection in addition to a mask at all times while on resident home areas.
- Monitoring staff, patients, clients and residents for symptoms of illness carefully with initiation of COVID-19 swabbing early.
- Enhanced housekeeping measures, including extra cleaning of high touch surfaces and common areas.
- Encouraging staff to practice safe social/physical distancing wherever possible while at work.
- At Providence Care Hospital and Providence Manor, visitors are restricted to only essential visitors (those with a loved one who is end-of-life). Essential visitors are also actively screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, are given masks to wear and are only permitted to visit their loved one’s room.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
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
Leave a Reply