COVID-19 outbreak declared at Columbus Residence

COVID-19 has hit Columbus Residence, a long-term care home on West 69th Avenue in Vancouver.

An outbreak was declared on the second floor of the facility Nov. 13 and at press time was still active. Vancouver Coastal Health spokesperson Deana Lancaster told The B.C. Catholic “strict infection control protocols” immediately followed the discovery of the outbreak.

Columbus Residence houses 78 residents in complex care and runs 23 independent housing apartments. At press time it was not known how many people in the long-term care building were affected by the outbreak and if any were sent to hospital.

“The health and safety of patients, residents, and health care providers remains our utmost priority and we will continue to work every day to ensure patients receive the care they need,” said Lancaster.

Columbus Residence closed to visitors at the start of the pandemic in March, but opened up to social visits with one designated visitor per resident in July. It reported to its community that increased health and safety protocols were costing $5,000 per month.

Columbus Residence was built by a Vancouver Knights of Columbus council in 1990 and is not connected with Columbus Homes, a Knights of Columbus charity that runs four seniors’ residences in the Lower Mainland.