COVID-19 Update: April 17, 2020 – FAQ – What happens when a resident/employee tests positive for COVID-19

• FAQ – General information about COVID-19
• FAQ – I have a loved one in a Shannex Long Term Care community
• FAQ – I have a loved one in a Parkland Retirement Living / Lifestyle Residences Community

Q: If a resident at my Shannex, Parkland or Faubourg location has a confirmed case of COVID-19, what happens next? 
Our team members have clear guidelines for how to proceed if they are notified that a resident has received a positive diagnosis for COVID-19. As a first step, they will immediately move to take the appropriate infection control precautions, including isolating the resident if this has not already been done.

Public Health directs all care and precautions required for the affected resident and they will move quickly to conduct contact tracing which identifies any other residents or team members who have been in contact with the affected individual. This includes which residents and team members must be tested.

In addition, Shannex’s Infection Prevention and Control Specialist and Occupational Health team lead a thorough contact tracing process. They identify any team members and/or residents who had contact with the affected resident and provide clear direction and support.

We place great importance on open communication. As a priority, we will immediately start communicating with all residents, families and team members at the location to make them aware of the situation. We will also share information related to the case on our website once all affected residents, families and team members have been informed.

Q: If a team member at my Shannex, Parkland or Faubourg location has a confirmed case of COVID-19, what happens next? 

Our management team members have clear guidelines for how to proceed if they are notified that a team member at their location has received a positive diagnosis for COVID-19. In most circumstances, the affected team member will already be off work. However, if the staff member receives news that they have a confirmed case and they are at work, they will be asked to leave the workplace immediately.

Public Health will communicate directly with the team member to direct actions and care. During this time, the team member will continue to have full support from our occupational health team. Public Health will also move quickly to conduct contact tracing which will identify any person who has had contact with the individual and to provide clear direction on what to do. This includes which residents and team members must be tested.

Shannex’s Infection Prevention and Control Specialist and Occupational Health team lead an additional thorough contact tracing process. They identify any additional team members and/or residents who had contact with these team members and provide clear direction and support.

We place great importance on open communication. As a priority, we will immediately start communicating with all families and team members at the location to make them aware of the situation. We will also share information related to the case on our website once all affected residents, families and team members have been informed.

Q: How will a resident or team member know if they have been exposed?
Public Health conducts contact tracing for all confirmed cases of COVID-19. They contact individuals directly if they are considered to have been exposed to a positive case and will provide them with direction on next steps.

Shannex’s Infection Prevention and Control Specialist and Occupational Health team lead an additional thorough contact tracing process. They identify any team members and/or residents who had contact with these team members and provide clear direction and support.

If you are not contacted by Public Health or have not received direction from our internal team, and are concerned in any way, please reach out to us so that we can understand your situation and help as needed.

Q:  If exposed, will residents be kept in another section of the home? 
If Public Health and/or Shannex have deemed that any resident has been exposed to a team member or other resident with COVID-19, they will work closely with our clinical teams and advise on next steps to ensure the safety of the resident and the entire community. For residents, this could mean they will have to be under infection control precautions including isolation for 14 days, along with anyone they have had close contact with. We may also choose to place a neighbourhood of residents under isolation for a period of time to make sure everyone stays healthy and safe.

Q: Will potentially exposed team members be sent home immediately?
 Shannex will work closely with Public Health to determine the next steps a team member must take to keep everyone, our team and residents, safe and healthy. We will always act out of an abundance of caution when making these decisions.