One staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 at The Hamlets at Westsyde long-term care home in Kamloops, Interior Health said today, Nov. 15, declaring an outbreak in units C1 and C2 of the home.

"No residents are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19 at this time. IH will continue to monitor the situation, while implementing additional infection control and preventive measures," Interior Health officials said in a press release sent out Sunday night.

"To protect the safety of all residents, outbreak protocols have been implemented in the affected units including a temporary pause in visits."

IH public health is directly contacting anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 to ensure they are also taking appropriate precautions, such as self-isolation or monitoring, as required.

To date, no long-term care residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at any homes in IH.

The Hamlets at Westsyde is privately owned and operated with 109 publicly funded long-term care beds.

Of the 768 COVID-19 cases recorded in the Interior Health Region since January, Kamloops, including Sun Peaks, Barriere and Logan Lake, had 111 cases. The Central Okanagan had 409 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in January. Vernon had 43 cases, Penticton 27 and all the Kootenay regions combined had 80.

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