Dozens of COVID-19 cases confirmed in outbreak at Windsor long-term care home

Schlegal Village at St. Clair COVID-19 outbreak Dozens of COVID-19 cases have been linked to an outbreak at a Windsor long term care home. CTV Windsor's Michelle Maluske reports.

Windsor, Ont. — There are now 78 confirmed COVID-19 infections at the Schlegel Village at St Clair in Windsor.

According to the company, 51 residents and 27 staff members have tested positive.

In a statement, general manager Tammy Roberts says, “those team members are at home isolating, and all staff are being tested at minimum every week.”

This is an additional five cases from the update provided by the Windsor Essex County Health Unit Tuesday morning.

Meantime, Unifor Local 2458 is alleging staff members don’t have access to N95 masks.

“Obviously the industry is really fragile right now and the last thing we need is that people don’t go to work because they don’t have the proper equipment,” says president Tullio DiPonti.

DiPonti says members have been calling in the last day, alleging not all forms of PPE are available to them.

“Our members are actually sitting in their car, crying, before they go into that facility,” says DiPonti.

However, in a statement to CTV News, Roberts disputes the allegation.

“Our care staff have never been without access to the proper PPE, including proper surgical masks, gowns, gloves, and face shields and N-95s for use in any aerosolized medical procedure,” the statement said.

Roberts says a team from Schlegel Village at St. Claire met with their “hospital-based Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) lead, who confirmed all of the protocols and PPE available are meeting requirement.”

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit hasn’t identified the initial source of infection in the home.

“Unfortunately it has already spread in that facility and now our goal is containment to make sure that we can protect as many people as possible from contracting the virus,” says medical officer of health, Dr. Wajid Ahmed.

Here is the entire statement from Schlegel Village at St Clair:

“The residents we support and the team members who do so much to care for them are at the centre of all we do. As of last evening, 51 residents in three neighbourhoods had tested positive and 27 team members were positive. Those team members are at home isolating, and all staff are being tested at minimum every week. We know the effects this virus can have on older adults and those with underlying health conditions, and our team is doing all they can to support.

Our care staff have never been without access to the proper PPE, including proper surgical masks, gowns, gloves, and face shields and N-95s for use in any aerosolized medical procedure, which is in line with the guidance provided by Ontario Health and the provincial government.

On December 11, the Village also mandated that every person in the home who is not a resident must wear a face shield on top of the proper surgical mask at all times, which is above and beyond IPCA protocols. The team also met yesterday with their designated regional, hospital-based Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) lead, who confirmed all of the protocols and PPE available are meeting requirement.

While having 27 staff members at home isolating is never something we want, we are bringing in additional support to fill these spaces until staff can return to work, and we are continuing to meet the care needs of our residents.

The establishment of a field hospital is ultimately up to the hospital and public health authorities. We support any and all decisions that our healthcare partners are making to respond to COVID outbreaks and we know that like us, they have the best interests of our communities in mind.”