Four more deaths due to COVID-19 at Oliver extended care home

An outbreak of COVID-19 at an Oliver long-term care home took four more lives over the weekend.

Interior Health reports today, Dec. 21, the COVID-19 outbreak at McKinney Place extended care in Oliver is now up to 73 cases, and a death toll of seven.

Fifty-three residents and 20 staff have been infected so far in the outbreak at the Oliver facility which began on Dec. 6.

“Today is our most tragic report since the beginning of this devastating pandemic," Interior Health Authority president and CEO Susan Brown said in a media release.

"It’s never easy to lose a member of our community, especially now after we have come so far in the fight against COVID-19. I urge everyone to redouble your efforts and focus on the important public health guidance that can prevent the spread of COVID-19 so that we may protect ourselves and loved ones this holiday season.”

McKinney Place is operated by Interior Health and is connected to South Okanagan General Hospital. The long-term care section has 61 residents in the 75 publicly funded long-term care beds. The hospital is not included in the outbreak.

An outbreak at Village by the Station long-term care home in Penticton remains at four cases with two residents and two staff infected.

The outbreak at Mountainview Village long-term care home in Kelowna is responsible for one death so far. Fourteen people have tested positive including seven residents and seven staff.

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