Outbreak protocol is still in effect at a Squamish residential care home after norovirus was discovered at the facility last week.
On Friday (Jan. 13), a few residents presented symptoms, such as gastroenteritis, caused by the virus. Staff stepped into action, separating the healthy from the ill and ramping up the cleaning schedule, Vancouver Coastal Health spokesperson Anna Marie D'Angelo told The Chief.
After reassessing the situation on Wednesday (Jan. 18), officials extended the outbreak protocol until Saturday (Jan. 21), when they will again review the premises. Until then volunteers and new admissions will not be able to enter the facility. The residential centre must be norovirus-symptom-free for 96 hours before the outbreak can be deemed over, D'Angelo said.
"[Norovirus] is very contagious and you have to try and limit the number of visitors," she said.
Within the Coastal Health region, D'Angelo said she was unaware of any other similar cases. However, the virus has popped up on Vancouver Island. On Sunday (Jan. 15), Vancouver Island Health Authority confirmed norovirus was an uninvited guest to a Canadian University Press national conference. More than 50 journalism students were thought to have been infected.
Norovirus is common, especially in the winter months, D'Angelo said. People must remember not to visit hospitals or care homes when they have a fever or diarrhoea, she added.
"Please wash your hands," D'Angelo said. "Those kinds of things are brought into the hospital."
