Another patient has died due to an ongoing outbreak at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.
The outbreak at the Penetanguishene facility’s Horizon program that’s linked to a COVID-19 variant of concern now includes 11 confirmed positive patient and nine positive staff cases, a jump from the eight patient and eight staff cases reported Wednesday morning.
"Today, the Simcoe/Muskoka District Health Unit identified the variant of concern in one of our positive cases as the UK variant B1.1.7," the hospital noted on its website.
"We are continuing to wait for the results of testing for the variant of concern with our other positive cases. The outbreak is being managed following the guidelines for the variant of concern."
Waypoint declared a COVID-19 outbreak on the Horizon Program for geriatric psychiatry that's located in the Bayfield Building Jan. 22 in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
"The vaccine remains a priority as an additional safety measure and we are happy to have confirmation that eligible Horizon Program patients will receive their second dose on February 11," the hospital noted.
"Some patient-facing staff who received the first dose are also receiving their second doses this week. While we don’t yet have confirmation on when the remainder of our patients and staff will receive their first dose, we continue to advocate for this to occur."
Earlier Wednesday, MidlandToday reported that some hospital staff have made a desperate plea to Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop asking for more N95 masks.
In response, Waypoint noted all staff on the Horizon Program have reusable elastomeric respirators and as well as all PPE required by public health guidelines.
"The elastomeric respirators are above and beyond public health recommendations on personal protective equipment, and as they are reusable, aid with required conservation efforts. This process was reviewed by the Ministry of Labour and we have received no orders at this time. The investigation is continuing and we are working collaboratively with all parties to ensure all precautions are in place."
As reported Tuesday, the hospital recently experienced a shortage of N95 masks on the Horizon unit. This led to a visit from the Ministry of Labour and included discussion on elastomeric respirators, which are reusable, but do require some training to use.
In an emailed response to questions relating to the apparent shortage and ministry visit, Waypoint said it is going beyond provincial and public health guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) recommendations with the provision of elastomeric respirators for Horizon staff upon request.
"PPE conservation remains a priority as the pandemic status and projections are continually changing, and with the new variants of concern and delays in the vaccine," the hospital noted in a statement to MidlandToday Tuesday. "The hospital has limited inventory of disposable N95 masks, however the elastomeric respirators are reusable and aid with our conservation efforts.”
As well, the Horizon Program is currently closed to transfers unless for emergency medical reasons until the outbreak is over. The hospital remains open for admissions to our Swing Unit (isolation unit) and all other clinical programs are continuing activities.
An earlier confirmed COVID-19 outbreak in the Penetanguishene facility’s Awenda A & B (forensic) units is now over. According to Waypoint, the Awenda program outbreak was contained to two patients and one staff testing positive and declared over by the health unit Saturday.
Since the pandemic began last March, Waypoint has reported 19 positive patient cases (reduced by one as numbers were incorrectly reported on Feb. 1), 24 positive staff (includes an unreported positive inadvertently missed in October) cases and five deaths.
