Some good news for Orchard Villa.
The Durham Region Health Department has declared the outbreak at the long-term care and retirement home to be officially over.
According to Durham’s COVID-19 data tracker, 347 residents and staff were infected with the virus and 78 residents died.
The tracker says all other cases are resolved with the exception of one, a worker on the long-term care side. That person is in isolation.
A case is considered resolved or recovered 14 days after someone develops symptoms or 14 days after the first positive test for asymptomatic individuals.
The outbreak was first reported on the long-term care side on April 3 and April 9 in the retirement portion of the facility.
On April 21, Durham’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Kyle, ordered Lakeridge Health to lead the monitoring and investigation of and response to the outbreak.
The army was later called in to help the home and they reported alarming conditions among the residents there.
The province has since taken control of the privately-owned home.
Lakeridge Health says they worked with Orchard Villa staff and the Canadian Armed Forces to make significant improvements, including strengthening infection control and safety practices, stabilizing the staffing levels and educations and re-education of staff in areas such as the appropriate use of PPE.
“The health department is pleased to see this turning point for the residents, their families and staff of Orchard Villa long-term care home and retirement home,” said Dr. Kyle. “While we are truly saddened for those who have lost loved ones during this time, it is heartening to see the progress that has been made. We extend thanks to the Lakeridge Health team, as well as members of the Canadian Armed Forces, for working diligently with the staff of Orchard Villa to help contain, mitigate and control further spread of this virus.”
Photo courtesy of Google Maps Street View
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