A woman in her 90s who resides at St. Joseph's at Fleming long-term-care home has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation at the facility in the southwest end of Peterborough, according to Peterborough Public Health (PPH).

An employee there is also in isolation at home with symptoms and awaits a test result. All staff with symptoms will be tested and must be cleared of the virus before returning to work, according to medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra.

It's the first case of COVID-19 confirmed by the health unit in a long-term care home in Peterborough city and county, which now has nine cases.

Previous confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Peterborough city and county were all either in people who'd travelled recently or who'd had close contact with someone withe the virus.

Meanwhile two other residents at St. Joseph's at Fleming were also tested for COVID-19 because they were coughing; those two tested negative.

All three residents are in isolation at the facility on Brealey Drive, states the news release.

One employee of St. Joseph's at Fleming who also had symptoms of COVID-19 - which are generally a fever, cough or sore throat - got a referral Wednesday night to have in-home testing from Peterborough Paramedics.

That person remains at home in isolation, states the release.

Meanwhile 11 employees and three residents of Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon were confirmed to have COVID-19 as of Wednesday.

One of those Pinecrest employees with COVID-19 works there in Bobcaygeon and lives in Peterborough.

The health unit is now investigating to see if the one confirmed case of COVID-19 at St. Joseph's at Fleming can be linked to travel or to an exposure to another case of the illness, the release states.

"We know St. Joseph's at Fleming is taking the right measures to keep residents as safe as possible from the spread of this infection," Salvaterra stated.

"Older adults are more at risk to severe illness caused by COVID-19 so this serves as a strong reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our most vulnerable residents."

The release states that St. Joseph's at Fleming has been closed to visitors since March 14; the closure was imposed on all long-term care homes in province from Ontario's chief medical officer of health.

"Our nurses will continue to support St. Joseph's at Fleming in controlling this outbreak, and we all need to do our part by staying home and not visiting anyone at this time, especially seniors or anyone who is immunocompromised," Salvaterra stated.

People with health-related questions about COVID-19 are encouraged to call Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000 or email covid19@peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

After these hours, people can call Telehealth Ontario for medical advice at 1-866-797-0000.

Visit Ontario's website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

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joelle.kovach

@peterboroughdaily.com