Two more residents have died of COVID-19 in an outbreak at Minoru Residence over the past week (Jan. 20 to Jan. 27), according to the latest data from the provincial government.
In total, 13 Minoru residents have died from the virus since an outbreak was first declared at the 250-bed facility, near Westminster Highway and Minoru Boulevard, about five weeks ago.
On Thursday (Jan. 28), the Ministry of Health released its weekly report on COVID-19 cases and deaths in individual long-term care home outbreaks. Data in the report is current as of 10 a.m. on Jan. 27.
The outbreak began on Dec. 21 in the 1 East unit of the facility near Minoru Boulevard and Westminster Highway. On Dec. 27, an outbreak was declared in the 3 West unit and, on Dec. 31, the entire facility was placed under outbreak protocol.
Since Dec. 21, 77 people have been infected, including 66 residents (up two from last week’s report) and 11 staff (up one from last week).
Minoru is the only long-term care facility in Richmond that currently has an active outbreak. An outbreak at Fraserview Intermediate Care Lodge, which infected 41 peoples — 27 residents and 14 staff — and killed seven, was declared over by health officials on Jan. 21.
Rapid tests are being used as part of the outbreak response at Minoru, Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed to the Richmond News last week. However, while the tests aren't mandatory as all medical procedures require consent, the health authority said that “staff are strongly encouraged” to undergo rapid testing.
An outbreak is only considered over if two incubation periods — 28 days — have passed since a case was last reported at the facility, according to the report.
