Two more people died of COVID-19 at Heritage Square in Vernon

Photo: Darren Handschuh

Two more residents of Vernon's Heritage Square long-term care home have died from COVID-19, bringing the total deaths there to seven.

Over the past two days, 12 more residents and four staff members have tested positive at Heritage Square, for a total of 44 residents and 14 staff.

Creekside Landing long-term care in Okanagan Landing has two additional cases with 12 residents and 13 staff testing positive. There has been one death linked to this outbreak.

Vernon's Noric House has had eight more staff members test positive over the last two days for a total of 24 residents and 16 staff.

“Sadly, Interior Health is finishing the week by reporting that another two people have died due to COVID-19. Both people passed away in long-term care, bringing the total number of families in IH who have lost loved ones to this pandemic to 46,” said Susan Brown, IH president and CEO.

“As COVID-19 cases rise throughout the southern Interior, we must redouble our efforts to prevent ongoing spread in the community. It is so important to follow the public health guidance that helps keep you and your loved ones safe from COVID-19: keep to your household bubble, stay home when you are sick, practise physical distancing, wear a mask, and wash your hands often.”

To date, 31 long-term care home residents have died in the Interior.

Other active outbreaks in the Interior Health region include:

• Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake – six staff cases
• Brocklehurst Gemstone in Kamloops – three residents and one staff
• Sunnybank in Oliver – 21 residents (three new) and seven staff, one death
• Williams Lake Seniors Village – one resident and one staff
• Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna – 41 residents and five staff, two deaths
• McKinney Place in Oliver – 55 residents and 23 staff, 17 deaths
• Village by the Station in Penticton – five residents and five staff, one death
• Mountainview Village in Kelowna has – eight residents and eight staff, two deaths
• Teck mining operations remains at 16 cases linked to the outbreak.

There are 13 new cases associated with the Big White cluster for a total of 175 cases and 32 active cases.