Outbreak declared at Shelburne Long Term Care Home

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared at a long term care home in Shelburne. 

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH), declared the outbreak at the Shelburne Long Term Care Home and Retirement Community, located at 200 Robert St., last Thursday (Jan. 21) after two staff members tested positive for the novel coronavirus. 

According to an update on the long term care homes website, the two staff members are currently isolating and recovering at home. 

“All staff are required to participate in surveillance testing as directed by the local public health unit,” reads the update. “With community spread still being a major concern, this regular testing will help us detect new positive staff or asymptomatic staff early and limit the risk of potential exposure to our residents.

“We are working closely with Public Health, with our medical directors, our epidemiologist and with Extendicare's Infection Prevention and Control specialist and are following their directives. As well, our enhanced infection prevention and control measure remain in place such as symptom screening our residents and team member a minimum of twice daily, terminal cleaning of high-touch surfaces, ensuring that all our staff are wearing masks and personal protective equipment and revisiting our infection prevention and control protocol to ensure they are being religiously followed.” 

The Shelburne Long Term Care Home and Retirement Community was one of two local long term care homes hit hard by the deadly virus last April – seeing 20 deaths due to COVID-19. 

On Jan. 6, Sarah Ricci, program manager of the long term care home, became the first person in the WDG Public Health region to receive the Pfizer vaccine, along with four other employees. 

At the time of print, no additional residents have tested positive. 

The Free Press reached out the Shelburne Long Term Care Home and Retirement Community for a comment on the outbreak, but has not received a statement. 

The incubation period for COVID-19 ranges from 1 to 14 days, but most commonly, people develop symptoms five to six days after being exposed to the virus, according to the Government of Canada. Almost all people (97.5 per cent), develop symptoms within 11 days of an exposure.