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At least seven residents have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Shepherd’s Care has been proactive: CEO

Terlson said Shepherd’s Care has been proactive bringing in measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We’ve taken very aggressive stances early on, to do everything to protect our residents and we’d rather take aggressive actions and measures now than have to apologize for not doing enough later,” he said.

As of April 6, all residents in all buildings have been told to self-isolate for 14 days. All staff members are screened for symptoms, and high-touch areas are regularly cleaned. No visitors have been allowed since March 27.

In her Thursday update, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, said the province is helping the facility.

“Our local Edmonton zone medical officers of health are supporting that facility to make sure all outbreak precautions are taken and that they’re limiting spread into some of those other wings where there are more vulnerable people,” she said.

Tracing COVID-19

Shepherd’s Care believes the virus originated from two sources.

In the first case, a resident in an independent condo suite was visited by a granddaughter in early March who recently returned from abroad. She was asymptomatic but later tested positive for the coronavirus.

The second case is believed to originate from a renter who contracted the virus from a home care worker before moving to the site. It’s believed that worker — who did not initially show symptoms — may have passed on the illness to others in the rental home, as well as to the other three employees that fell ill.

lboothby@postmedia.com

@laurby