THUNDER BAY – An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared at the Southbridge Pinewood long-term care home in Thunder Bay, affecting the home's Sandpiper unit, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit reported Tuesday morning.
One resident and two staff members had tested positive in that unit, home operator Southbridge Care Homes indicated.
One of those infected was experiencing "very mild symptoms," while the other two were largely asymptomatic, said Southbridge VP of seniors' advocacy and strategic partnerships Beryl Collingwood in an email.
All were fully vaccinated, she added. The affected resident and one staff member had received third doses, while another staff member had not. Third doses for all eligible staff will be scheduled before Jan. 28, Collingwood said.
Admissions, transfers, discharges and social activities have been cancelled in the Sandpiper unit until further notice, the health unit reported. Visitors are restricted to family members and caregivers only.
All residents and staff in the Sandpiper unit have been tested at the direction of the health unit, Collingwood said. Staff at the home are taking rapid tests daily, rather than every other day, due to the outbreak.
Southbridge Pinewood is located on Walsh Street and has 128 beds.
Note: This story has been updated to include outbreak details provided after initial publication by Southbridge Care Homes.
The story has also been updated to note that admissions, transfers, discharges, and social activities were cancelled only in the Sandpiper unit, not facility-wide, after the health unit corrected its initial news release.
