NOTE: This story has been updated and can be found here.
By Don Urquhart, Times-Chronicle
Osoyoos’ Mariposa Gardens is one of five health facilities in the Okanagan Valley reporting COVID-19 outbreaks this week, according to Interior Health.
There are currently seven active cases of COVID-19 among residents of the long-term care portion of the facility according to Nadia Daniell-Colarossi, spokesperson for Toronto-based Sienna Senior Living, the parent company of Mariposa Gardens.
She noted that the seven residents are either asymptomatic or experiencing mild symptoms, “thanks to the added protection of third vaccine doses”. The outbreak was identified on Jan. 18.
Interior Health is currently undertaking an assessment to determine the source of the outbreak.
“The team at Mariposa Gardens is working extremely hard to protect residents from COVID-19 and reduce the spread of the virus. With high rates of COVID-19 in the community, our teams are staying vigilant and following all infection prevention and control measures to protect residents,” Daniell-Colarossi said.
She added that the facility is continuing to follow rapid testing directives from the province and has implemented additional steps under the guidance of the Medical Health Officer. These extra steps include providing meals for symptomatic residents in their rooms, one-on-one programming for all residents and frequent health monitoring of all residents with twice-daily temperature checks.
“Families of residents are receiving regular communication to ensure they are up-to-date on the situation, and we appreciate all of the support they continue to show,” she said.
Essential visitors are still permitted, all of whom must be fully immunized, wearing masks for the duration of their visit, and they must also test negative on Rapid Antigen Testing before proceeding to the resident’s room for their visit.
Meanwhile, Oliver’s Sunnybank long-term care facility was identified by Interior Health as having an outbreak of respiratory infection which was identified on Jan. 15.
There are currently nine other COVID-19 outbreaks in assisted living, long-term care or hospital settings in the Okanagan including Penticton (Westview Place), Summerland (Summerland Seniors Village), Kelowna (Sun Pointe Village, Kelowna General Hospital, Lakeview Lodge, Village at Smith Creek, and Glenmore Lodge), and Vernon (The Hamlets and Heritage Square Facility).
