KITCHENER

Hospital takes over management of Cambridge long-term care home with over 90 COVID-19 cases

Katherine Hill CTVNewsKitchener.ca Digital Content Producer

Published Friday, December 18, 2020 3:15PM EST

A medical laboratory assistant prepares Covid-19 tests for analysis in a laboratory at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside, Liverpool, England, Tuesday Oct. 20, 2020. The team of scientists are working round the clock at the hospital to deliver rapid coronavirus test results. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Text:

KITCHENER -- Cambridge Memorial Hospital has taken over management of Cambridge Country Manor, a long-term care home currently dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak.

The Ministry of Long-Term Care approved the Voluntary Management Contract on Friday. The home is licensed under Caressant-Care Nursing and Retirement Homes Limited.

The province said the agreement will help manage the spread of COVID-19 in the home and "stabilize the situation."

The outbreak was declared on Dec. 8. As of Friday, 47 residents and 44 staff members have tested positive for the disease, a jump of more than 20 cases from the day before.

"Protecting our long-term care residents is our top priority and we are doing everything we can to keep them safe," said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, in a news release.

The province said it is continuing to invest in care in long-term care homes during the pandemic through funding, staff support, expanded testing and guidance on outbreak management.

Waterloo Region is currently dealing with seven active outbreaks at long-term care and retirement homes.