'Cautious' optimism about COVID-19 outbreak status at Cambridge Country Manor

There are now fewer than a dozen people living at Cambridge Country Manor who have COVID-19 symptoms, says Patrick Gaskin, president of Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

The hospital took over temporary management of the home on Dec. 18 after an outbreak was declared on Dec. 8. 

There were 60 people living at the home who contracted the coronavirus and 67 people who work there, including staff members and people from agencies called in to help at the home.

There have been 14 deaths linked to this COVID-19 outbreak.

"We're cautiously optimistic," Gaskin said in an interview Wednesday in providing an update on the outbreak. "We're very excited that the staff have been starting to return to work and those that were off with COVID have been coming back. And we're just thrilled that the staff are coming back and adjusting to the new work environment, which is just fantastic."

Gaskin says the outbreak touched every part of the home, impacting residents and staff, and some residents were relocated to the hospital. There's no timeline yet to return those people to the home just yet.

The hospital will continue overseeing managing the home for 90 days from Dec. 18, unless extended by the provincial government.

"Our expectation is that we will have it wrapped up in the 90 days," Gaskin said.