VICTORIA Three more residents of a long-term care home in Nanaimo have tested positive for COVID-19, Island Health announced Tuesday. Five people, all residents, have now tested positive for the virus at Chartwell Malaspina Care Residence, where an outbreak of COVID-19 was first declared on Dec. 27. According to Island Health, all five residents who have been affected live in the same first-floor unit of the building, where the outbreak is so far contained. This unit of the care home has been isolated from the rest of the building, and residents who have tested positive for the virus are being isolated in their rooms.
KITCHENER A personal support worker (PSW) from an Elmira long-term care home received Waterloo Region s first COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday afternoon. Siham Ibrahim was one of 10 staff from Chartwell Elmira Long-Term Residence to receive the vaccine at Grand River Hospital s immunization clinic. Officials said Monday that the vaccines had arrived at the hospital two days ahead of schedule. “We extend our gratitude to all levels of government for their expediency in making the vaccine available to the front lines of long-term care,” said Sharon Ranalli, Vice President Marketing and Communications with Chartwell Retirement Residences in a news release. “In today’s first vaccine of a Chartwell employee, and in the days to come as more receive it, the Region of Waterloo is giving all citizens hope that the fight against COVID-19 is achievable and will indeed save lives and protect our residents.”