Interior Health declares Okanagan Correctional Centre related outbreak over
By Nelson Daily Staff
In a media release Monday, the Interior Health (IH) has declared the outbreak related to the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC) over.
Interior Health said in total, seven staff tested positive for COVID-19 with no one in custody contracting the virus.
Interior Health said the individuals were supported by Interior Health as they isolated at home and through active contact tracing, approximately 80 close contacts were ordered into self-isolation.
“I commend the Okanagan Correctional Centre’s staff and administrators for having infection control precautions in place to prevent COVID-19 transmission among people in custody and the community,” said Susan Brown, Interior Health president and CEO.
“Thanks to efficient contact tracing and proactive engagement with Interior Health’s medical health officers, this outbreak is an example of how these challenging circumstances can be managed when partners work well together.”
Interior Health said initial indications suggested transmission occurred during a training exercise, however, the exact source remains inconclusive.
Friday, Interior Health issued another possible COVID-19 outbreak in Kelowna.
In a media release Friday, Interior Health said it is advising several individuals who attended a private party at Hotel Zed in the early hours of September 7 that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.
Interior Health said a number of people gathered in a common area and/or balcony of the hotel at 1627 Abbott St., Kelowna, and may have been exposed to COVID-19.
Interior Health reminds everyone that COVID-19 is circulating throughout our communities and the public should all follow public health precautions to protect one another by preventing the spread.
IH reminds everyone of the importance of following COVID-19 precautions:
- Stay home and avoid travel if you have symptoms, even mild ones.
- Maintain physical distancing (two metres apart) and use masks when distancing is not possible.
- Wash your hands regularly and do not touch your face.
- Do not plan or attend gatherings of more than 50 people. Limit gatherings to out of doors whenever possible.
Testing is recommended for anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Loss of sense of taste or smell
- Other milder symptoms may include: runny nose, fatigue, body aches (muscles and joints aching), diarrhea, headache, sore throat, vomiting and red eyes.
Information about testing and public exposures to COVID-19 throughout the Interior Health region are available here: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Answers to frequently asked questions are available on the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control website, available here: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/common-questions
