An additional death and five new cases of COVID-19 at the Prescott and Russell Residence were confirmed by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) on Monday, November 23.

EOHU Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said that one resident passed away due to COVID-19 during the previous weekend, bringing the total number of deaths to 13 since the outbreak began on October 9.

There were three new COVID-19 cases among residents and two new cases among employees at the Prescott and Russell Residence as of Monday, bringing the total number of active cases in the outbreak to 19.  There have been 170 cases among residents and staff at the facility since the start of the outbreak.  As of November 23, 76 of the resident cases were resolved, and 63 of the employee cases were resolved.

Two other COVID-19 outbreaks under EOHU jurisdiction remained in effect as of November 23.  They are at Russell Meadows Retirement Home and Woodland Villa in Long Sault.

Casselman school closed due to COVID-19 case

École élémentaire catholique de Casselman Pavillon Sainte Euphémie is closed for the next two weeks after a staff member tested positive.  Roumeliotis said on Monday that the individual`s activities and contacts were not limited to a single classroom so after consulting with school administration and the school board, he decided that the building should be closed.

“This is not an outbreak, this is a precautionary closure,” emphasized Roumeliotis.

As a result of the closure, children from 255 families will be learning online at home until they can return to class.

According to the Government of Ontario list documenting active COVID-19 cases in schools, the following schools under EOHU jurisdiction had active cases of COVID-19 as of November 23.  Two or more cases is considered an outbreak unless otherwise stated.

Two students at St. Jude Catholic Elementary School near Vankleek Hill—Not an outbreak due to one of the cases not originating from within the school

One staff member at École secondaire catholique L’Escale in Clarence-Rockland

One student at École élémentaire publique Rose des Vents in Cornwall

Three students at École secondaire publique L’Héritage in Cornwall

One student at Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School

Among licensed childcare facilities under EOHU jurisdiction, active cases of COVID-19 remained in effect in one child at A Child’s Secret Garden Daycare in Cornwall, and in one employee at Kawehnoke Child Care Centre in Akwesasne as of November 23.