UPDATE: Interior Health declares outbreak at Kelowna long-term care home

A resident of a long-term care home in Kelowna has been diagnosed with COVID-19, a first for the Interior Health region.

An employee and a resident in long-term care at the care home tested positive for COVID-19, according to a letter sent to residents of Good Samaritan Mountainview Village Independent Living.

"I want to assure you that we are working closely with Interior Health and have put outbreak protocols in place," reads part of a letter to residents from a vice president of the organization Scott Fielding. "Enhanced screening of residents and employees will also be conducted, including temperature checks,"

While COVID-19 numbers within the Central Okanagan have been on a steady climb, and there have been potential exposures at some care homes, residents of these facilities had, until this weekend, been unaffected.

Interior Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Mountainview Village long-term care home Monday afternoon.

In a press release, IH said the outbreak applies to both east and west units on the second floor.

"One staff member and one resident on the second floor have tested positive for COVID-19. Staff members in close contact with these individuals are in self-isolation and monitoring for symptoms. IH will continue to monitor the situation while implementing additional infection control and preventive measures," the IH press release reads.

On Friday, IH reported a one-day total of 47 new cases overnight, for a total of 1,538 since the start of the pandemic.

They said 399 cases are active and in isolation, while 10 people are in hospital.

— This story was updated at 1:36 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 to add information from Interior Health.

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