2 staff members diagnosed with coronavirus at Fraser Heath seniors' facilities

Fraser Health has confirmed two staff members working at seniors’ facilities in Langley and Surrey have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

According to a release, one is a staff member at The Harrison at Elim Village in Surrey, and the other is a community health worker supporting Chartwell Independent Living at Langley Gardens.

The Harrison at Elim Village is a retirement community that provides long-term care, assisted living, and independent living to seniors. The infected staff member worked in long-term care.

Chartwell Independent Living provides similar services, and the home care worker diagnosed there worked with seniors residing in its independent living facility.

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“The two individuals are in self-isolation at home,” said Fraser Health in a statement, adding that a Fraser Health SWAT team is on-site with residents and families.

The health authority says that these are third and fourth Fraser Health facilities where a staff member or community health worker or staff member has tested positive for the virus. One resident tested positive at another Fraser Health care centre.

“Fraser Health is working with the staff at both site and home care clients to identify anyone who may have been exposed and taking steps to protect the health of all staff, residents and families,” states the health authority.

In total, nine long-term care homes in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health regions have confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“It’s critical to protect people in care homes,” Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a press conference on Thursday, explaining why the province issued a directive preventing healthcare staff from working in more than one care home.