British Columbia

COVID-19 confirmed at 2 more Lower Mainland care homes

Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at two new care homes in the Lower Mainland, as the list of care facilities affected by the outbreak in British Columbia continues to grow.

Staffer at Langley Lodge, worker and resident at Amica Edgemont Village in North Vancouver test positive

Edgemont Village in North Vancouver, British Columbia on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at two new care homes in the Lower Mainland, as the list of care facilities affected by the outbreak in British Columbia continues to grow.

The Langley Lodge in Langley and the Amica Edgemont Village in North Vancouver have each seen a staff member test positive for the virus, a statement and letter confirmed Tuesday.

A resident at the North Vancouver home has also been positively diagnosed with the illness.

Fraser Health response

A statement from Fraser Health said the affected employee in Langley is self-isolating at home.

The health authority said "enhanced control measures" have been put in place at the lodge, which is a not-for-profit charity owned by the Langley Care Society. Officials are working with remaining staff to identify anyone else who may have been exposed. 

"A Fraser Health SWAT team is on site and communication with residents and families is underway," the statement said.

Langley Lodge is pictured on Tuesday. Fraser Health has confirmed a staff member at the lodge tested positive for COVID-19. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

Fraser Health said all staff and residents are being screened for the novel coronavirus twice a day.

Vancouver Coastal Health response

As for Edgemont Village, a Vancouver Coastal Health letter sent to families on Monday said affected residents will be isolated to their rooms and staff members who are sick are not allowed to come to work.

Both facilities are only accepting essential visitors. 

Fraser Health said staff and residents at the facility will be screened twice daily for COVID-19 after a worker at the home tested positive for the illness. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

Last Thursday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry ordered workers at long-term residences to restrict their work to one facility at a time to stop the virus from spreading between multiple care homes.

There were COVID-19 cases in 13 different long-term care and assisted-living homes in B.C. as of Monday.

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