Hastings-Prince Edward Public Health is supporting “protective testing” of residents in long-term care homes while they are in an outbreak.
The new process was implemented with Hastings County and helped confirmed three new cases of the virus at Hastings Manor in Belleville, which is still in a COVID-19 outbreak.
The new process will see that any resident with symptoms will get tested along with any person that came into close contact with them, even if they’re asymptomatic. Public Health also says to the facility should consider testing all residents in the area of the building where the confirmed case was, or a facility-wide test if deemed necessary.
Public Health says the steps they’re going to take will ensure that testing in a long-term care home is done as effectively as possible.
“As we continue our outbreak management support and surveillance, additional staff and residents of Hastings Manor have been monitored, and tested when appropriate,” says Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza. “Recent confirmation of additional cases of COVID-19 in the facility has escalated the testing and monitoring process.”
Public Health is also launching an online tool that will note how many confirmed cases of COVID-19 are in long-term care homes and how many probable cases as well.