COVID-19 outbreak at Roberta Place declared over
Posted February 18, 2021 12:48 pm.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) has officially declared the outbreak at Roberta Place Long Term Care Home in Barrie resolved.
The outbreak began six weeks ago, on Jan. 8, with the more contagious U.K. variant of the virus being identified as the main cause. It quickly became one of the worst outbreaks in a long-term care setting in the province.
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The Red Cross was deployed to the home on Jan. 17 and several other organizations including the SMDHU, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, The County of Simcoe, Hospice Huronia and The North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services Program assisted with bringing the outbreak under control.
Residents’ families have filed a class action lawsuit against the home, alleging Roberta Place failed to take basic measures to protect residents against COVID-19.
The court document alleges that the facility failed to separate residents infected with COVID-19 from those who didn’t have the virus, among other allegations.
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Seventy residents have died due to COVID-19, with 127 residents and 84 staff infected at the height of the outbreak at the home.
As per the province’s website, there are currently no resident cases and less than five staff cases of COVID-19 at Roberta Place.