Every day the grim statistics mount — more new positive COVID-19 cases, more deaths, in the province and beyond. It’s hard to focus on the numbers of resolved cases and negative test results — especially when you’re stuck at home, and maybe feeling a bit fed up. Here in the Valley, every day we use the province’s daily epidemiological summary to update our News Ticker on The Current’s home page. We also monitor the daily figures provided by RCDHU, to update our COVID-19 “widget” on our home page. (just under the Weather widget.)
RCDHU Case Summary
As at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8 RCDHU released a Case Summary for the region containing more detailed information that some readers have been asking for. They have broken down the figures, both for confirmed cases and completed tests.
The 17 confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified as:
- Long term care/retirement home residents: 1
- Healthcare workers: 9
- Other community members: 7
First, how are these patients doing? Last Friday, four were in home isolation, twelve cases had been resolved, and one patient had died. No one was currently hospitalized or hospitalized in ICU.
According to Dr. Robert Cushman, Chief Medical Officer for Renfrew County & District, of the nine healthcare workers infected, eight of them “work outside of the county, most in a long term care home in Almonte.” He went on, “Given that the tests are done on the basis of a careful history, it shows how low the prevalence is in the County especially when nine cases can be traced to worksite outside of the County or to foreign travel.”
As of last Friday, there were no facility outbreaks in our region. Renfrew County’s only facility outbreak (Miramichi Lodge) was declared on March 31 and was over on April 17.
Location of confirmed cases
Readers say Renfrew County covers a large geographic area and some have wanted to know where the positive COVID-19 cases reside. The RCDHU Case Summary gives the answer:
- 6 in Arnprior & area
- 5 in Renfrew & area
- 2 in Pembroke & area
- 1 in each of Barry’s Bay & area, Deep River & area, Eganville & area, Petawawa
Testing
The new Case Summary also states whether the people tested had symptoms:
- 2057 tests were carried out on symptomatic residents.
In long term care facilities and retirement homes, enhanced tests of asymptomatic persons:
- 873 residents
- 986 staff
Testing in long term care facilities, retirement homes, child care centres
In a media release also dated May 8, RCDHU gave an update on tests in the region that the Ministry of Health required in its May 1 announcement. RCDHU advises that as of May 8, five of the nine long term care homes in Renfrew County and District have completed the required testing. This meets the 50 percent completion target for May 8th. The remaining four long term care homes are either currently conducting testing or are scheduled to complete testing next week. Eight of the twelve retirement homes have already completed the testing, and the remaining homes are scheduled for next week. Both operating licensed Child Care Centres have completed their testing, exceeding the target by a week.
The release goes on to say that RCDHU’s Public Health Inspectors and Public Health Nurses, along with local and regional partners, are working with all long term care homes and retirement homes to review the infection prevention and control measures that are currently in place. This work is to guide prevention measures and improve management of a potential COVID-19 outbreak. All inspections are scheduled to be completed by May 15, 2020.
The Current asked Dr. Cushman if testing would be made available to workers who care for the elderly in private homes, not at registered facilities. He said, “We are testing both residents and staff at long term care homes and retirement homes. As for workers who come into private homes, we have not had any formal requests to do widespread testing by their organizations.” [as of Apr.30]
“Keep up the good fight”
“When it comes to results, staff at RCDHU have demonstrated time and again that they have been working beyond the call of duty. The same can be enthusiastically said of all our partners. Together with support from the public we have an enviable record of keeping the virus at bay,” stated Dr. Cushman.
Thank you and keep up the good fight.
Cassista,L.RCDHU(2020,May8) Keep up the Good Fight [media release]
RCDHU(2020,May8) COVID-19 Case Summary – May 08, 2020 – 5:00 p.m. Retrieved from https://www.rcdhu.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/UPDATED-RCDHU-Data-for-website_08-May-2020.pdf
Image rcdhu.com