Interior Health says COVID-19 outbreaks at two Kamloops care homes have been declared over.
A total of eight staff members and five residents tested positive for the virus at the Highridge Home and Singh House group home, though there were no deaths linked after the outbreak was declared on Feb. 9.
Meanwhile, an outbreak at the Westsyde Care Residences was also declared over. Thirteen staff members and 17 residents tested positive for the virus, with two deaths connected. That particular outbreak was declared on Feb. 1.
“My sincere sympathy goes out to the families and caregivers of the individuals who died in this outbreak,” said Susan Brown, Interior Health president and CEO. “This has been a difficult outbreak and I appreciate the effort by the facility as well as IH officials who supported the work to control the virus.”
Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Albert de Villiers is reminding people of the importance to follow public health precautions in the weeks and months ahead.
“Fortunately, these outbreaks are becoming less frequent as more people are getting vaccinated, but it’s important that people continue to take precautions to prevent illness until the rest of the population is immunized,” he said.
“We want everyone to stay healthy until we are all immunized.”
Highridge Home and Singh House is privately operated by Prima Enterprises meant for people who require 24-hour support. The two houses are on separate floors of the same building at 1099 and 1097 Singh Street respectively.
Westsyde Care Residences is a privately operated group home for people with brain and spinal cord injuries, with several of the 21 beds publicly funded for IH clients.
The outbreak at the Brocklehurst Gemstone Care Centre remains active with 32 total cases, and two deaths connected. There is also an active outbreak at The Florentine in Merritt which has seen two cases.