gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Alberta Health says there is currently a COVID-19 outbreak in a seniors’ facility in Medicine Hat.
There are three active cases at South Country Village seniors’ residence near the airport, said Tom McMillan, assistant director of communications for Alberta Health.
Outbreaks are declared at an acute or continuing care facility when there are two or more cases, while it takes five or more for certain other facilities and 10 at an office.
As a precaution, outbreak control measures are put in place at continuing care facilities and group homes with a single confirmed case.
Of the more than 1,500 people who have tested positive for COVID on each of the last few days, it is not yet known what level of symptoms each patient has been experiencing.
“We do not have a breakdown by the severity of symptoms,” said McMillan.
Asymptomatic testing was stopped in the summer unless an individual is a close contact of someone who has tested positive or is linked to a specific outbreak.
“At the time, only 0.11 per cent of the more than 659,000 tests that had been conducted on asymptomatic Albertans without a known exposure had come back positive,” said McMillan.
There are currently 101 active cases in Medicine Hat and 39 in Cypress County.
Three schools in Medicine Hat are on the outbreak list: Crestwood School, Prairie Mennonite Alternative School and Medicine Hat High School.
Other outbreaks in this region currently listed on the Alberta Health website include: Agecare Sunrise Gardens in Brooks, Studio Elle in Brooks and a private dayhome in Medicine Hat.
Outbreaks are declared to be over after four weeks if no new cases are identified.
While the number of positive cases are listed for each county and community, this does not accurately indicate where the person may have been infected.
“It’s important to note that the map (on the website) reflects the primary address of an individual who is a confirmed case of COVID-19, not the source of exposure,” said McMillan.
