Hamilton Public Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at long-term care facility
HAMILTON, ON – Hamilton Public Health Services is declaring an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Heritage Green Nursing Home in Stoney Creek after a second case was confirmed at the facility. A 55-year-old female resident became symptomatic on the evening of March 19, was subsequently tested, and the test results confirmed this morning that she was positive. She was not hospitalized and remains in isolation at Heritage Green. The first case at this facility was reported on Wednesday, March 18 and involved an 80-year-old female resident who lives on the same floor of the nursing home. An outbreak is declared by Public Health when there are two or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst residents or staff of a long-term-care facility.
Heritage Green is continuing to isolate the entire floor of the nursing home, cohort staff (dedicated staff to dedicated areas), isolate residents and provide in-room meals. The facility remains closed to visitors.
Hamilton currently has a total of 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of noon today.
Some of the most vulnerable members of our community reside at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Extraordinary measures are needed in extraordinary times like this to prepare and respond to COVID-19. We are working very closely with Heritage Green to manage this outbreak. - Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health
Our priority is to provide our residents with the greatest care possible during this challenging time. We are going above and beyond to ensure our residents are protected from the spread of this virus. We are in close contact with families of our residents, who are understandably unsettled, to keep them informed of the situation. - Scott Kozachenko, Administrator, Heritage Green Nursing Home
Additional Resources
- For regular City of Hamilton COVID-19 updates, please visit www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus and www.hamilton.ca/covidclosures
- Visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19
- Public Health Services’ COVID-19 Hotline: 905-974-9848 or phscovid19@hamilton.ca