For nearly three weeks, a long-term care home in Barrie, Ont., has been battered by a devastating and deadly COVID-19 outbreak that has now claimed 49 lives and infected 214 residents and staff.
Last Updated Sunday, January 24, 2021 6:02AM EST The United Kingdom COVID-19 variant has been identified at a Barrie long-term care home coping with a massive outbreak of the virus. Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) confirmed that six COVID-19 cases from Roberta Place Long-Term Care Home have been identified as the highly contagious coronavirus variant. The cases are among five residents and one employee. As of Saturday, 127 residents have tested positive for the virus, along with 84 staff members, which represents half of the workers who helped respond to the outbreak, SMDHU Medical Officer of Health Dr. Charles Gardner said during a virtual press conference Saturday afternoon.
COVID-19 variant discovered at Barrie LTC home amid massive outbreak
by Michael Ranger
Last Updated Jan 21, 2021 at 8:28 am EDT
Nearly all residents and staff Roberta Place Long-Term Care in Barrie, ON are reportedly infected with COVID-19. Image: Google streetview
A COVID-19 variant has been discovered at a Barrie long-term care home.
The strain was found in six tests and comes in the midst of a massive outbreak at Roberta Place Long Term Care.
A second test still needs to be conducted to determine the exact strain but the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit says the initial test shows a high chance that it is a variant “strain of concern.”