CORE executive director Rita Bessant speaks to a large crowd in this 2019 file photo. Bessant says the organization is confident that a COVID-19 outbreak has been confined to four cases.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Officials with the CORE Association say they are confident a COVID-19 outbreak in the organization will be limited to four cases thanks to widespread uptake of vaccine among clients and other mitigation efforts.
Rita Bessant is the executive director of the agency that works with developmentally delayed adults and children and also operates group homes and provides job placement services.
It was noted on Alberta Health Services’ list of outbreaks in the South health zone this week.
Bessant said four individuals with ties to the organization had tested positive, but by implementing isolation protocol and due a high vaccine uptake, the virus will shielded from entering the larger group.
“We were able to advocate successfully for our clients to be included in vaccination priority (groups), and almost all of those living in our group homes were vaccinated,” Bessant told the News on Thursday.
“And thank goodness, because as it out turns out, our timing couldn’t have been better.”
Persons with certain medical conditions known to worsen the effects of coronavirus infection were prioritized in phases of vaccination eligibility that began on March 30.
That includes conditions like cancer, dementia and lung disease, but also those with Down syndrome, autism, neurological disorders and other “profound learning disabilities” that relate to CORE’s mandate.
Bessant said most vaccinations for her people took place about two weeks before the first case related to the association was reported, and therefore, those vaccinated have had the two weeks doctors say is important for a vaccine to take full effect.
“We’ve been following all the guidelines rigidly since last spring,” said Bessant. “(Currently) we feel confident that we heard about (recent cases) right away and dealt with it. We’re hoping this is as far as it goes.”
Cases related to her organization total four, including two staff members, one client and that person’s employment aide. Of those cases, the first was diagnosed almost two weeks ago and the last was reported last weekend.
They are all still isolating and “doing OK,” says Bessant.
