Outbreak protocols in place at Wellington Terrace after inconclusive COVID-19 test

ABOYNE – Eleven residents are in isolation at the Wellington Terrace Long-Term Care Home pending a second COVID-19 test result of an employee whose first test came back inconclusive.

“Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Pubic Health (WDGPH) has put Wellington Terrace in outbreak status,” states a Wellington County press release issued at about 7pm on Dec. 12.

The employee, who last worked at the facility on Dec. 12, received the inconclusive result following a Dec. 9 test.

The staff member has since been retested, but officials did not immediately know the results of the second test, conducted on Dec. 12.

“Upon receiving the unusual test result, Wellington Terrace worked closely with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) to begin contact tracing those that may have come in contact with the employee,” states the release.

“As a result of the investigation, it was determined that the Birchdale neighbourhood be put in outbreak status and 11 residents have been put in isolation pending the second test result.”

Officials say families of Wellington Terrace residents “are in the process of being notified of the situation.”

Wellington Terrace administrator Suzanne Dronick said “the safety and protection of our residents remains our top priority.”

She noted, “Wellington Terrace follows extensive infection control processes that follow Ministry of Health directives and are guided by [WDGPH].”

All Wellington Terrace employees are tested every seven days as per Ministry of Health directives, officials say, and residents showing “even the slightest evidence of a health change” are “immediately tested for COVID-19.”