North Coast Review
[This story originally appeared on The North Coast Review, a blog based in Prince Rupert that contains “items of interest to those living on the North Coast of BC.”]
After close to a two month period, Northern Health has declared that the COVID-19 outbreak at Acropolis Manor in Prince Rupert has come to an end.
The official announcement from the health authority was released this morning.
The first reports of confirmed cases of COVID at the care home were reported in mid January, followed by the horrible news of a passing at the manor which came on January 28th, that of a resident who had passed away the day before
Before the coronavirus would run its course, fifteen more residents of the long term care facility would pass away before the situation seemed to finally show signs of turning around.
In its brief update, Northern Health described an outbreak that rattled the city over the last two months and left residents to mourn the loss of life of elders and seniors. In total, 33 residents and 24 staff tested positive for COVID-19, and there have been 16 resident deaths associated with this outbreak. There have been no new cases since February 10, 2021.
There is however, little background from today’s announcement as to what caused the coronavirus to take root in the long term care facility to wreak such terrible results on the community and deliver such sadness in such a short period of time.
And that’s something that should make for some additional study in the near future. This isn’t about assessing blame or pointing fingers, but rather to ensure that we learn from the incident and that we revise any protocols required to make sure a similar event does not come our way again.
The finding of such a study, could make for a explanatory review of how the COVID-19 virus has had such a large scale impact on a small and remote community and help other communities devise procedures to ensure as best as possible for the safety of their elders and seniors and the staff that are there for them.
North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice made note of the announcement through her social media stream, once again passing on her condolences to the families, friends and caregivers of those who have passed.
While the current focus for us all at the moment is the now underway vaccination program, no one should let the opportunity to review and report on the Acropolis Manor situation slip away.
That’s the least that our health officials and politicians could do for the families of those who lost loved ones over the last two months in Prince Rupert.
