Deaths due to COVID-19 at Prescott and Russell Residence reach 12, Hawkesbury business cases confirmed, town leads EOHU in active cases

The COVID-19 outbreak at the Prescott and Russell Residence in Hawkesbury continued over the previous weekend and into Monday, November 2.

According to Eastern Ontario Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, three more residents at the long-term care facility on Spence Avenue died of COVID-19 during the weekend, bringing the total number of deaths from the outbreak as of Monday to 12 from nine on Friday, October 30.

Roumeliotis said on Monday afternoon that there were 23 active cases of COVID-19 among residents and 21 active cases among employees at the 146-bed facility, making a total of 44 active cases.  There had been 138 cases of COVID-19 in total due to the outbreak as of November 2, affecting 83 residents and 55 staff members.  There were 23 resident cases and 34 employee cases which were resolved as of Monday.

Canadian Red Cross personnel continue to assist with infection control measures at the Residence.  Another complete round of COVID-19 testing for residents and staff at the facility was taking place on Monday.

Restaurant and retail

Roumeliotis officially confirmed on Monday that an employee at the Burger King restaurant in downtown Hawkesbury had tested positive for COVID-19 10 to 12 days previously.  The case was not considered a risk to the public and the restaurant was not required to close, and no official announcement of the positive test was necessary.  However, Burger King management decided to close the restaurant and undertake a major cleaning of the premises as a precaution.

On November 2, Roumeliotis also confirmed that an employee at the Canadian Tire store in Hawkesbury had recently tested positive for COVID-19 but like in the Burger King situation, there was no risk to the public and the store did not close.

Hawkesbury driving case count

There were 203 active cases of COVID-19 across the jurisdiction of the EOHU on Monday, November 2.  Out of that amount, 80 of the active cases were among the population of the Town of Hawkesbury, including the Prescott and Russell Residence outbreak.