COVID-19

Hospital-wide visitor restrictions are in effect at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital as leadership declares a COVID-19 outbreak.

The hospital’s Infection Control Team says they’re investigating the origin of the outbreak and staff are working in partnership with the Northwestern Health Unit to ensure effective control strategies to protect patients.

Residents in Kenora’s Pinecrest Home for the Aged are no longer under a COVID-19 outbreak status.

As of late Monday afternoon, the outbreak in Unit #4 has been declared over by the Northwestern Health Unit. It was first reported on October 28, and it grew to 20 affected residents by November 2.

The Ontario government says children under five are at serious risk as the province faces a ‘triple-threat’ of respiratory illnesses this winter, and a return of masking could be on the horizon.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, held a press conference on Monday to warn the province that a high number of children under the age of five are being admitted into emergency rooms and intensive care units due to COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

A second outbreak is being reported at Kenora’s Pinecrest.

Assistant Administrator and Human Resources Manager, Michelle Spencer, says the Northwestern Health Unit has declared an influenza outbreak in Unit #3, with 1 positive resident and 3 residents presenting symptoms.

Visitors are warned that affected residents may only have one designated visitor during their isolation period, which lasts 5 days for influenza – otherwise known as the flu – pending symptom improvement.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Kenora’s Pinecrest Home for the Aged has grown to 20 residents.

Assistant Administrator and Human Resources Manager with Pinecrest, Michelle Spencer, says the majority of residents within the unit are unable to adhere to isolation requirements, and 20 of the 21 residents within the unit have tested positive for the illness.

The outbreak was first reported on October 28. This is Pinecrest’s fifth COVID-19 outbreak this year. Staff are reminding the public to always wear a mask around their residents at all times.

The Northwestern Health Unit has confirmed a new COVID-19 outbreak at Kenora’s Pinecrest Home for the Aged.

Assistant Administrator and Human Resources Manager with Pinecrest, Michelle Spencer, says the outbreak was declared after three positive tests were found in Unit #4 late Friday afternoon.

As a result, visitor guidelines are as follows in Unit 4:

- 1 designated essential caregiver for COVID-19-positive residents,
- 2 designated essential caregivers for the remaining residents,
- No visitors under the age of 18 are allowed,

The new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster is now available in northwestern Ontario for anyone over the age of 12.

Health Canada approved the use of Pfizer’s bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster in September, initially. Then, in early October, Pfizer released an updated version of the vaccine, targeting the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, which has been authorized for use in individuals 12 and older.

Previous COVID-19 vaccines were monovalent – meaning they targeted the original strain of COVID-19 from 2020.

After 18 days of restrictions, the COVID-19 outbreak affecting Sioux Lookout’s Meno Ya Win Health Centre is now over.

The outbreak was first identified on September 26 after two patients were found to be positive, and was declared positive on the afternoon of October 14 after 10 days straight of no new positive cases.

“By expanding infection control measures within the hospital, our outbreak management team acted quickly to contain this outbreak in a short period of time,” says Douglas Semple, President and CEO of SLMHC.

A week ago today (Saturday) was the first day that passengers on airlines were not required to wear masks and comply with other COVID-related restrictions in Canada. Following two years of the pandemic-ridden requirements, many are glad the masks are no longer necessary.

Felipe and Roberta Ribeiro flew into Winnipeg with their baby from Toronto on October 1 for a short visit. Felipe says people aren't using masks practically anywhere else for the last while, anyway. 

The Northwestern Health Unit has confirmed a new COVID-19 outbreak at Kenora’s Pinecrest Home for the Aged.

Assistant Administrator and Human Resources Manager with Pinecrest, Michelle Spencer, says the outbreak was declared after two positive tests were found in Unit 2.

As a result, visitor guidelines are as follows in Unit 2:

- 1 designated essential caregiver for COVID-19-positive residents,
- 4 designated essential caregivers for the remaining residents,
- No visitors under the age of 18 are allowed,