Retirement home says two residents with presumptive COVID-19 is in hospital

Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services declared an outbreak of COVID-19 on Friday evening at the Seasons Retirement Community in Welland, saying that two patients were found to have the virus after they were tested following symptoms.

"The first case at this facility, a resident in their 80’s, developed respiratory symptoms on Wednesday, March 18 and is currently in the hospital in stable condition. The second resident became symptomatic on March 23, and was subsequently taken to the hospital and tested for COVID-19," said the release, but would not state gender or age for the second case, adding the retirement home is working with the regional health.

Seasons Retirement Community said on their website that the two cases at the facility are 'presumptive' but did not mention the declared outbreak in the friday update.

"In an abundance of caution, we immediately made the decision to isolate all residents. This means residents are receiving daily temperature and wellness checks and all meals to their suites," the statement reads.

The news come on the same day as officials confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in a patient with no travel history - a man in his 30s, employed at the Saint Francis Catholic Secondary school in St Catharines.

How is COVID-19 affecting you? Heard of anything happening in Thorold and area related to the pandemic? Email ludvig@thoroldnews.com