Update Sunday, September 5, 2021 

We are pleased to report that the second PCR test completed on the third staff member who tested positive came back negative this morning! In addition, all test results for residents on Oak Avenue came back negative as well!

After consultation with public health this morning, this negative result will allow the outbreak to end for residents in isolation on Willow Ridge, Maple Grove and Oak Avenue.

Memory Lane and Evergreen Walk will remain in outbreak status due to the period of isolation required based on last possible exposure dates.  All residents on these two home areas, as well any staff who worked on Memory Lane and Evergreen Walk between August 29 and September 1, 2021, will undergo a second test on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.

Thank you to all of the staff who have been working on the floors during the outbreak.  These are stressful times for everyone, and your resiliency, compassion and dedication are appreciated.  Thank you to our many caregivers who have come in to support and assist.  You are all amazing!

As an additional reminder, McCormick Care Group continues to encourage vaccination of all individuals. Please note that, due to privacy legislation, we will not be disclosing the personal health information or vaccination status of any staff at any time.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Update Saturday, September 4, 2021

The results of PCR tests for residents from Willow Ridge, Evergreen Walk, Maple Grove and Memory Lane are in, and we are pleased to report that they all are negative!

Unfortunately, one additional staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. This staff member is asymptomatic and a repeat PCR is being conducted to confirm the result. Unfortunately, this staff member worked on Oak Avenue within the last 48 hours.

While we await the results of the second PCR test, the health unit has instructed us to test all residents on Oak Avenue as well as all staff who worked in that home area between August 31 and September 2, 2021. We are placing our Oak Avenue residents in isolation as a precautionary measure at this time.

Please note that with this possible third positive staff case, the outbreak may be extended for all floors.

An update will be provided as soon as possible.

Friday, September 3, 2021

We regret to announce that a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at McCormick Home.

Two staff members have tested positive for the virus. As a precaution, PCR testing has been completed on all our residents at the home, and we are currently awaiting the results.

The home continues to consult with the Middlesex-London Health Unit and is following their instructions accordingly. These measures are as follows:

• No residents are to leave the home for short-stay absences.
• All activities, functions and meetings on the affected home areas are to be cancelled.
• The home is closed to visitors at this time, including indoor and outdoor visitors.
• Essential caregivers can continue to visit the home. They are limited to one caregiver at a time only and can only visit with one resident.
• Essential caregivers coming to visit on Evergreen Walk, Willow Ridge, Maple Grove and Memory Lane must wear full droplet/contact precautions. The required PPE is located at the screening entrance.

In addition, effective immediately, McCormick Home will be implementing the following testing guidelines for all individuals entering the home:

• Fully vaccinated individuals will be tested every other day, to a maximum of three times per week.
• Unvaccinated individuals will be tested upon every entry to the home.

These restrictions will remain in place in all home areas until further notice.

Please note that McCormick Dementia Services is not experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak at this time.

While McCormick Home is our partnering organization in dementia care, both facilities have been operating separately since the start of the pandemic. Access between the home and dementia services sides of the building has been closed for the last several months. In addition, we continue to conduct rapid testing of our staff on a regular basis.

Our highest priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our residents, clients and staff.  In response to the latest information provided by the provincial consensus modelling table released on September 1, 2021, new projections warn that daily case counts could hit 9,000 by October in a worst-case scenario and 4,000 if the province continues on the current trajectory.

McCormick Care Group continues to encourage vaccination of all individuals, but due to privacy requirements, will not be disclosing the personal health information or vaccination status of any staff at any time.

Thank you for your continued support.  We will provide further updates as they become available.