Below dispatch is from Campbellford Memorial Hospital dated Friday, April 17th.
Campbellford Memorial Multicare Lodge continues to provide essential services and its management & staff are working very hard to promote and protect the health and well-being of our community during the COVID-19 Pandemic. We are in the early stages of the pandemic. Public health officials continue to advise that risk in Northumberland County remains low. For local updates, visit the HKPR District Health Unit web site at http://www.hkpr.on.ca/CMML
CMML has taken the following steps to heighten infection controls within the retirement home:
•Cancelling all tenant association activities
•Closing walkway access to Campbellford Memorial Hospital
•Posting notices on all entrances doors indicating the facility is “Closed to Family & Visitors”
•Initiating extra cleaning of touch points nightly
•Encouraging social distancing and increased hand washing for all staff and tenants•Initiating self-screening of staff at beginning of shift
•Initiating all staff wearing surgical masks during their shift
•Increasing signage throughout Lodge
•Inviting all residents to be swabbed for COVID-19
Ontario Health Directs Hospitals to Stop Transferring Patients to Long-term Care and Retirement Homes
On April 15, Ontario Health launched the COVID-19 Action Plan for Protecting Long-term Care Homes. As part of this plan, Ontario hospitals, including Campbellford Memorial Hospital, have been asked to temporarily stop transferring patients to long-term care and retirement homes until further notice. Ontario Health has indicated this guidance does not prohibit hospitals from discharging other designated ALC patients to appropriate, safe destinations if this action will cause a critical patient flow issue in the hospital.
2 To Enhance Infection Control Efforts — Hospital Puts Take-Out Food Restrictions in Place
Campbellford Memorial Hospital is grateful for the tremendous show of community support and staff recognition received during this challenging time. To reduce the potential spread of infection from community to hospital, the hospital is requesting staff for patients and their loved ones not bring take-out food into the hospital at this time and sharing of food is discouraged. Only culturally-required food that is not provided by Nutrition Services or is required for patients on a case-by-case basis is accepted in the hospital at this time. For patients and staff bringing food into the hospital — all food must: be packaged in a sealable container that can be wiped; not require refrigeration or heating; and be easily discarded. When the pandemic is over, CMH will be more than happy to receive gifts of food for staff as a show of community appreciation for their commitment to excellent patient care.
