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3 more long-term care home deaths in Interior Health region

3 more long-term care home deaths in Interior Health region | iNFOnews.ca
Betty, who resides at the Sunnybank long-term care in Oliver, receives the first vaccine in the facility in this undated photo. SUBMITTED/Interior Health

Three more COVID-19 related deaths have taken place in Interior Health long-term care homes, bringing the total number of deaths in the health region to 38.

Two additional deaths were reported at Heritage Square long-term care in Vernon where there are now 41 cases split between 31 residents and five staff, with four deaths now connected with the outbreak.

An additional death at Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna brings that outbreak up to two deaths, among 42 cases split between 37 residents and five staff.

"This has been a week of celebration and heartbreak for many throughout the Interior," Interior Health president and CAO Susan Brown said in the release. "While staff and residents of long-term care are receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations, sadly three more people have succumbed to their illness, all in long-term care.

"While the COVID-19 vaccine brings hope and optimism, we must not lose sight of the important public health measures that help protect our vulnerable loved ones in the community."

Other long-term care home outbreaks in the region include:

  • Sunnybank long-term care home in Oliver with 19 cases.
  • Noric House long-term care home in Vernon with 13 cases.
  • McKinney Place long-term care in Oliver has 77 cases.
  • Village by the Station long-term care in Penticton has nine cases.
  • Mountainview Village long-term care in Kelowna has 16 cases.

Interior Health is now rolling out COVID-19 vaccines to priority one populations in the region, starting with long-term care home staff and residents.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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Steve Arstad

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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