Outbreak Confirmed as Norovirus

Visitor restrictions continue at the Swift Current Care Centre due to the outbreak status declared earlier this week.

The Cypress Health Region's Public Health department has received results from the Saskatchewan Disease Control Lab in Regina that have confirmed Norovirus being present within the facility.

There are eight residents now being identified with the signs and symptoms of the illness. Four are newly identified after the start of the outbreak.

"Once you get to know there's an outbreak a number of people have already been infected," said Consulting Medical Health Officer Dr. David Torr. "They may not be showing signs but they may be incubating the illness. When you look at the measures you put in today you're really curbing three days in the future because anybody that is already infected you're not going to be able to do anything about it today."

The Health Region notes there are also several staff who are exhibiting similar signs and symptoms.

The outbreak status should last at least another few days.

Dr. David Torr Interview"Once we have the outbreak under control usually within a few days days we then wait another couple of days before we declare the outbreak over just to make sure that no other new cases appear," Dr. Torr said.

The only exception to the visitor restrictions at the Swift Current Care Centre are in "end of life" situations.

The Health Region is encouraging everyone to practice frequent and effective hand-washing at all times, cough/sneeze into the crook of your arm, stay home when ill, and regularly disinfect hard surfaces and frequently touched areas within your homes and businesses.