Veterans wings hit by COVID at Parkwood Hospital

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A COVID-19 outbreak at London’s Parkwood Institute has left 14 mostly elderly patients suffering mild symptoms of the virus, officials say.

It’s the largest outbreak at Parkwood this year and is located mainly in the hospital’s veterans wing, where 11 people in two areas have tested positive, Kelsi Break, a spokesperson for St. Joseph’s Health Care London, said.

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Parkwood provides long-term care to Canadian war veterans in 141 beds across three units. Most of Parkwood’s residents are veterans who served in the Second World War and the Korean War.

“Our residents are in their late 80s, early 90s. Right now, they’re showing mild cold symptoms, so coughs, runny nose, nasal congestion, body aches,” Break said Thursday. “We’re always diligent; this is a veterans home.

“We want to protect them and make sure they’re as healthy as they can be and have a good quality of life.”

Another three patients have tested positive for COVID in Parkwood’s complex-care program, she said.

The hospital also experienced smaller COVID outbreaks in May and January, Break said, adding the threshold for declaring an outbreak is to have two individuals showing symptoms.

“Outbreak is a word that can frighten people,” she said. “We utilize (the word) outbreak as a way to ensure we have additional measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus.”

Outbreak measures include additional cleaning of commonly touched surfaces and closely monitoring patients who have symptoms, including temperature checks.

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People must wear masks and keep their hands washed when in contact with a patient who’s tested positive, Break said. “We ask that residents and patients don’t leave the unit so we don’t risk spreading it to others in the facility.”

Joanne Kearon, associate medical officer of health for London and Middlesex, said COVID-19 outbreaks have become increasingly common this year compared with last year.

Prior to the pandemic, respiratory outbreaks during the summer months were rare, she said.

“We do see outbreaks as more regular occurrences,” Kearon said. “Over the last months, there have been seven COVID-19 outbreaks with Middlesex and London’s congregate living settings.”

The outbreaks have not been as severe as at the beginning of the pandemic due to immunity related to vaccination, as well as natural immunity from previous infections, she said.

“However, people who are elderly are at higher risk for severe outcomes,” Kearon said.

The outbreaks are “a good reminder to us that COVID-19 is still around and we all have a role in protecting the most vulnerable in our community,” she said.

hrivers@postmedia.com

@HeatheratLFP

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