Health officials are investigating a COVID-19 outbreak that’s been declared at Abbotsford Regional Hospital.
On Saturday, BC’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry spoke about the outbreak, noting that it involves six staff at the hospital and two patients.
She noted that an ongoing investigation into the outbreak is being conducted by the Fraser Health Authority.
Pandemic reveals “critical need” for long-term care investments
The outbreak declaration comes at the same time that the president of the BC Nurses Union said the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed critical need for investments in long-term care.
In a statement, Christine Sorensen said it’s critical long-term care nurses, who are “specialized professionals in geriatric care and have been working through the pandemic on the front lines,” are included in the important discussion around what must happen to improve to the system.
“Lessons must be learned following the devastating outcomes we’ve seen play out in long-term care homes since the pandemic began,” she said. “We’ve seen the province take extraordinary measures over the last several weeks to mitigate the spread of the virus, but we’ve still seen a staggering loss of life and suffering. There has never been such an urgent need to look into the gaps that exist in the system.”
Sorenson said infection control measures must remain a top priority and BCNU is alarmed by the growing number of long-term care nurses who find it difficult to acquire the appropriate personal protective equipment.
“It is not acceptable that these nurses, many who are managing the significant emotional toll of losing those residents they have cared for, are also having to worry about protecting themselves from the virus,” said Sorensen. “These nurses deserve to have a voice.”
Now’s the time, she said, “to address the chronic underfunding, short staffing and heavy workloads that have impacted the eldercare sector and those who work within it for years.”
She noted that the BCNU has been calling for all levels of government to address the erosion of health support services for seniors, “long before” COVID-19.
“Most facilities around BC have failed to meet provincial government guidelines and provide a daily average of 3.36 hours of direct care per resident,” she said. “Our population is aging, with projections that show one-in-four people will be over the age of 65 in 10 years.”
As such, “acting now will not only save lives but improve conditions for long-term care nurses who are working on the front lines.”
