No new cases at Sunnyside; visitors by appointment only

There have been no new cases of COVID-19 linked to St. Paul’s Sunnyside Manor since Dec. 26.

According to M.D. of St. Paul Foundation CAO Brigitte Sakaluk, a hospitalized resident was confirmed to have the virus on Dec. 24. Following that, all staff and residents from the lodge were tested and AHS confirmed an additional two cases of COVID-19 among the residents.

“These residents were placed in isolation on December 24, 2020. At this time, we have no other positive cases among the residents or staff and all residents are being closely monitored for symptoms,” said Sakaluk in a press release dated Dec. 28 and shared with Lakeland Connect Jan. 7.

In a phone interview Jan. 7, Sakaluk said they have had one staff member test positive since then, but the transmission was unrelated to Sunnyside Manor and that individual is isolating at home.

Sakaluk said the M.D. of St. Paul Foundation and Sunnyside Manor staff are working hard to prevent further spread of the virus “by isolating symptomatic or confirmed cases, through increased sanitization, limiting access to essential personnel, screening of all persons accessing the facility and working closely with Alberta Health Services, Public Health and the Communicable Disease Control to ensure residents, staff and Designated Family/Support persons are aware of the situation.”

Asked if visitors are being restricted at this time, Sakaluk said that as of Jan. 6 the designated support people for their residents are allowed to visit again, by appointment only.

“They are screened when they come in. They must go directly to their loved ones. And when they leave the building, they have to come directly out,” said Sakaluk.

Outbreaks are considered active for 28 days after they are declared. Assuming there are no new cases of COVID-19 among the staff or residents, Sakaluk said they expect the outbreak status to resolve on Jan. 21.

She said at this point, the residents of Sunnyside have not received the COVID-19 vaccine but the 10 designated supportive living beds at Elk Point Heritage Lodge were vaccinated late in the day Jan. 6.

“We don’t know when to expect [the vaccine],” said Sakaluk. “We will be, eventually. But they’ll let us know.”

22 new cases in St. Paul area

Cases across the Lakeland were slightly up with St. Paul seeing the biggest jump of 22 new cases as compared to the eight in Bonnyville, Cold Lake, and Smoky Lake.

Municipality	Active Cases Jan. 6	Active Cases Jan. 7	Active Cases +/-	Total Cases +/-
Lac La Biche County	0	0	0	0
Lac La Biche	25	29	+4	+4
I.D. 349	0	0	0	0
M.D. of Bonnyville No. 87	69	71	+2	+8
City of Cold Lake	47	52	+5	+8
County of St. Paul No. 19	75	95	+20	+22
Smoky Lake County	46	49	+3	+8
County of Two Hills No. 21	8	8	0	0
County of Vermilion River	16	16	0	+1

 

Local Geographic Area	Active Cases Jan. 6	Active Cases Jan. 7	Active +/-	Total Cases +/-
Lac La Biche (Lac La Biche County, NW Smoky Lake County & I.D. 349)	27	31	+4	+4
Smoky Lake (Nearby Smoky Lake County & West Thorhild County)	6	8	+2	+2
Bonnyville (Nearby Bonnyville MD)	58	58	0	+6
Cold Lake (East Bonnyville MD)	47	52	+5	+8
St. Paul (Saddle Lake and Surrounding St. Paul County)	80	85	+5	+11
Frog Lake (West St. Paul County & South Bonnyville MD)	44	62	+18	+19
Two Hills County	8	8	0	0
Vermilion River County	22	21	-1	0

On Jan. 6, Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation #128 announced Pakan School, the daycare, and busing would all remain closed until Jan. 18. The administration office will re-open by appointment only on Jan. 11.