Employees from Central Health have stepped in to fill the gap as the owner of the Springdale Retirement Living struggled to meet staffing levels amid a COVID outbreak at the facility.

As of yesterday, 36 staff and residents—about a third of the facility’s population—tested positive with more test results pending.

Health Minister John Haggie says the regional health authority has been doing what it can to help in the situation by providing rapid test kits, additional PPE and even volunteer staff to step in for staff members who have tested positive or are awaiting their test results.

He says Central Health offered 17 volunteers to staff the home on Monday, 10 on Tuesday, and there are 8 there today providing hands-on care to residents along with the home’s staff.

A doctor and two nurses were sent in last night to conduct a health assessment on the residents.

He says all the residents reported feeling safe and well, but many expressed a feeling of loneliness due to the isolation protocols.