Regina long-term care homes NOT in outbreak move from Level 3 to Recovery Phase family presence/visitation

Effective immediately, all long-term care homes in Regina not in outbreak will return to Recovery Phase family presence/visitation.

Homes currently with confirmed or suspected outbreaks that will remain at Level 3 end of life reasons only include:

• Extendicare Elmview
• Regina Pioneer Village Complex Care Unit
• Wascana Rehab Centre Mental Health Unit

Homes where confirmed or suspected outbreaks have been lifted include: Regina Lutheran Home, Santa Maria, Extendicare Parkside, Extendicare Sunset, Regina Pioneer Village – Transitional Care Unit, and Wascana Rehabilitation Centre Unit 2-6.

Since declaring the above confirmed or suspected outbreaks on August 23, 2021, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Ministry of Health have become aware of an instrument error at the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory resulting in up to 255 invalid COVID-19 test results from August 18-22. These samples have been retested and 206 are inconsistent with the first result. Fifty four residents at long-term care homes in Regina previously testing positive have been re-tested and confirmed to be negative for COVID-19. As a result, the outbreaks at Regina Lutheran Home, Santa Maria, Extendicare Parkside, Extendicare Sunset, Regina Pioneer Village – Transitional Care Unit and Wascana Rehabilitation Centre Unit 2-6 have been declared over.

“We sincerely apologize for any disruption and worry this testing issue has caused our residents, families and staff,” said Dr. Rashaad Hansia, Physician Executive Integrated Urban Health. “The safety of residents, families and staff is our highest priority and the precautions we put in place were added out of an abundance of caution as we investigated the high increase in case numbers. Now that we have more information, we are able to limit visitor restrictions to only those homes that have a confirmed or suspected outbreak.”

Recovery Phase Family Presence means:

• No limits on the number of essential family/support persons or visitors that can be designated for each resident. 
• No limit on the amount of family/support persons or visitors that can be present at a time for indoor or outdoor visits.
• Screening is required before you enter and mask use is strongly encouraged.
• Timing of in-person visits may be subject to scheduling limitations of the home.
• Larger groups need to schedule the use of common areas before they come.

For more information on family presence, please visit www.saskhealthauthority.ca.

Family members and support people who are permitted must undergo a health screening prior to entering the facility or home. This includes a screening questionnaire and sign in sheet. The family member or support person will be required to perform hand hygiene (hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer) when entering and leaving the facility or home, and when entering and leaving the patient's or resident’s room. Family members and support people will be recommended to wear a medical grade mask while inside the facility or home and additional personal protective equipment if required. Family members and support people are asked to limit movement in the facility/home, which is to be kept to essential movement only between the entrance and visiting area/resident room.

Detailed information about family presence during COVID-19 can be found at saskatchewan.ca/covid19.

All members of the public are reminded of the following:

• COVID-19 is transmitted through coughing and sneezing (droplet transmission), and by touching surfaces with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
• Memorize and recognize the symptoms:  fever, cough, headache, muscle and/or joint aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, dizziness, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite (difficulty feeding for children), loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing. Stay home if you have symptoms and monitor yourself.
• Get tested: Learn more about testing and regularly take the online self-assessment at Saskatchewan.ca/COVID19. Call HealthLine 811 or your physician for a referral or visit your local drive-thru testing site.
• Care for yourself and others: Anyone at any age can contract COVID-19. Be kind to each other and to health-care workers.
• Download the COVID-19 Alert APP: The Health Canada COVID Alert app is available to all Saskatchewan residents at no cost in the Apple and Google Play app store. The app is another tool available to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 by letting people know of possible exposures without sharing any personal information. For more information, visit the COVID-19 Apps webpage.
• Get immunized.