COVID-19 strikes 24 seniors' homes in Eastern Health as owners call for more rapid tests
CBC News | Posted: January 15, 2022 7:00 PM | Last Updated: January 15, 2022
Seniors' home owner Shaun Lane says rapid test kits critical in containing outbreaks
Eastern Health has confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks at a total of 24 care homes in the region.
In an email to CBC News on Friday, a spokesperson for the health authority said eight of the outbreaks are in Eastern Health long-term care facilities and 16 are in privately owned personal-care homes, community-care homes or assisted living facilities.
CBC was not able to obtain statistics on outbreaks in long-term care for the three other regional health authorities.
However, outbreaks have already been reported at seniors' homes in Bay St. George, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Kippens.
We need to have every tool that's in our toolbox. - Shaun Lane
As long-term care facilities around the province grapple with the virus, one owner is calling for better access to rapid tests.
Shaun Lane, owner of Silverwood Manor in Kippens, where 43 staff and residents tested positive for COVID-19, says the situation highlights the need for more rapid tests.
"We need to have every tool that's in our toolbox to come so that this situation doesn't happen," said Lane, who is also president of the Personal Care Home Owners Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.
"We really feel the government needs to step up and give us the tools to help us make sure that whoever is coming into our building has been properly tested."
'A difficult number of days'
Lane said starting 2022 with three-quarters of staff and nine of 10 residents testing positive made for a "difficult number of days."
Lane said Western Health offered "zero help" at first but eventually sent in a nurse practitioner and some registered nurses. Community volunteers stepped in as well.
"It was one of those times when you really see the best in humanity," Lane said.
While Lane said he's "really, really happy" to see many staff and residents on the mend, he says better access to rapid tests would have made for a less severe start to the year.
A rapid response
After waiting "for a number of weeks," Lane said, rapid tests did arrive at his long-term care homes and were swiftly put to use. Two staff members immediately tested positive and were sent home, he said.
Silverwood has since enacted a policy requiring all staff to self-test before returning to work.
Lane said he hopes the government will soon revamp its own rapid test policy: The current one provides enough kits to test every few days, Lane said, but additional tests are at the expense of operators.
"I just really don't think that testing once every three days gives us the best shot," he said.
"Give us a policy that gives us the very best chance of identifying the virus within our staff so they can stay out of the building.… I really feel it's the government's responsibility to give us the tools that we can protect our most vulnerable citizens."