Photo: Contributed

Interior Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Cottonwoods Care Centre in Kelowna.

Two staff members and 10 residents have tested positive for the virus according to a release from Interior Health.

Anyone who came in close contact with those who tested positive will be contacted through contact tracing.

Cottonwood Care Centre is a long-term care facility with 221 publicly funded long-term care beds, operated by Interior Health.

Due to the outbreak, all visits are being paused to protect residents. Interior Health will continue taking steps to further protect staff and residents including:

• Ensuring long-term care staff members are only working at one care home.
• Monitoring all residents for respiratory symptoms and doing virus testing on anyone with COVID-19 symptoms.
• Enhanced cleaning protocols and COVID-19 visitor policies.
• Offering vaccine to all residents and staff.

There are currently no other COVID-19 outbreaks at care homes in Kelowna.