N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Cases rise in Dalhousie nursing home, other homes 'getting better'

The number of COVID-19 infections at the Villa Renaissance in Dalhousie has increased from nine to 17, including one employee.

The remaining seven cases were detected in residents.

Michael Keating of the New Brunswick Nursing Home Association said cases continue to rise in the nursing home. There have been five deaths in Villa Renaissance.

He said the first case was brought in through an employee, who could have been asymptomatic for a number of days.

In an interview with Information Morning Moncton, Keating said more stringent measures are needed to protect against COVID-19.

"Are we going to allow ourselves to continue to let our people die?" he said. "We have to have stricter measures. It's as simple as that ... we need to protect these people."

He said some employees have brought trailers into the nursing home parking lot and have been living there to provide services around the clock. There have been other resources sent through the province as well, he said.

"The administrator has informed me that there is not a staffing issue at this time, as people have stepped up to come in and help them," he said.

He said the outbreak at the Drew Nursing Home in Sackville, where 31 people have been infected, should be declared over on Wednesday or Thursday. Eight people have died at the Drew Nursing Home.

Losier Hall in Miramichi, where there have been 15 infections and two deaths, seems to be showing progress, he said.

"They seem to be managing quite well at this stage," Keating said.

As of Tuesday, New Brunswick had 12 active COVID-19 outbreaks in vulnerable settings, including long-term care homes and a shelter.

Members of the provincial rapid outbreak management team, also known as PROMT, are on site at all of these locations, plus seven more, Health Department spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane said.

An outbreak at a nursing home, adult residential facility or other communal living setting is defined as two or more residents or staff with a lab-confirmed diagnosis, where transmission within the facility cannot be ruled out, Macfarlane said.