Cambridge, Ontario – Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) and Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Homes LTD, in consultation with the Region of Waterloo Public Health, have declared an end to the COVID-19 outbreak at the Cambridge Country Manor this morning. No new infections have occurred over the past 14 days.
“We are relieved this day has come,” says Mari Iromoto, CMH’s executive lead that provided leadership to the home during the outbreak. “Everyone showed the resolve needed to get this outbreak under control. This was truly a collaborative effort. I am so proud of them all. We can now focus our attention to the important work of prevention and bringing back the activities our residents enjoyed before the outbreak.”
Caressant Care’s Cambridge Country Manor (CCM) declared an outbreak on December 8, 2020 which quickly spread within the home. On December 17, the Ministry of Long-Term Care approved a voluntary management contract between Caressant Care and Cambridge Memorial Hospital. This provided the hospital with the ability to act quickly and support CCM staff to manage the outbreak. Fourteen residents were transferred to a hospital bed within the region to allow staff to clear rooms for a deep cleaning. Trailers were brought on site to provide extra room and enhanced infection control protocols were put into place. The hospital also assigned up to 30 CMH staff to work at the home to offset the gap created by CCM employees who were off sick. In early January these efforts paid off and infections slowed. By January 27, 2021 all but two residents transferred to hospital were returned to the home and most CCM staff were back at work.
“I am so grateful to our staff, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, our families, and other care partners for coming together to help Cambridge Country Manor and our residents in this time of need,” says Jim Lavelle, President of Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Homes LTD. “I also want to express my deepest sympathies to the families, and to the staff, who consider our Residents part of their extended family, on the passing of their loved ones. Now is the time to begin the healing process as we continue to care for our residents.”
The voluntary management contact between Caressant Care and Cambridge Memorial Hospital is in place for 90 days, until March 19. A total of 60 residents and 70 staff tested positive with COVID-19. Sixteen residents died as a result of their infection.
