Outbreak declared at Kamloops long-term care home

Four residents of the Brocklehurst Gemstone Care Centre in Kamloops have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting Interior Health to declare an outbreak at the long-term care facility.

Everyone in close contact with the residents are in self isolation and are monitoring their symptoms, according to an Interior Health media release. There is no indication that there is a connection to other long-term care homes in the city.

Gemstone is privately run by Trellis Seniors Services and has 125 beds funded by the province and five that are private.

READ MORE: COVID-19 deaths within Interior Health increase by 4 overnight

Interior Health said it will continue to monitor and implement more infection control and preventive measures as needed.

All visits to the facility have been stopped except for residents nearing death as part of Interior Health’s outbreak protocols.

For the latest information about COVID-19 go to the Interior Health website here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander or call 250-309-5343 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.