1 more COVID-19 death connected to Sarnia seniors' home, regional confirmed cases rise to 56

Public health officials in Lambton confirmed on Wednesday that another person connected to the Landmark Village seniors' home in Sarnia has died.

Lambton Public Health (LPH) issued a media release on Wednesday explaining that a person in their 70s was admitted to Bluewater Health Hospital on March 30, and died on March 31.

"The test result received today confirmed that individual was positive for COVID-19," reads an excerpt from the same LPH media release.

Lambton County health officials also confirmed that the number of confirmed cases in the region has risen to 56, a jump from the 39 cases confirmed on Tuesday.

A total of six people have died due to COVID-19 in Sarnia-Lambton.

Landmark Village not sure how COVID-19 entered

The Landmark Village seniors' home is currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak, with at least six confirmed cases as of Tuesday.

Speaking with Afternoon Drive host Chris dela Torre on Wednesday, John Scotland CEO of the Steeves and Rozema Group that owns Landmark Village said his organization is continuing to monitor the situation closely, adding that "we continue to hope for the best for those residents that are in hospital recovering or in serious condition."

Scotland said he's still not sure how coronavirus entered the Landmark Village home.

"We understand that public health is tracing those interactions in the public," he said. "We have no head anything from them that they've determined anything definitive."

This past week has been a real change ...- John Scotland, Chief Executive Officer, Steeves and Rozema Group

Still, Scotland said that Landmark Village provides a very modest amount of care to people living there, adding that the residents of the home are "active seniors."

"They're involved socially, they're out in the community, they're involved with many community groups," he said. "In fact not now but on a normal day, we would have community groups coming to the home, holding events, church services, etc."

Residents at Landmark Village are currently practising self-isolation and physical distancing in their apartment-style units.

Staff at the seniors' home are monitoring residents at least three times each during breakfast, lunch and dinner delivered as room service as well as at least three others times throughout the day during snack times.

Listen to John Scotland and Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley talk about Landmark Village withAfternoon Drivehost Chris dela Torre:

"For the most part, our staff working throughout the building, with very few exceptions, have personal protective equipment," Scotland said. "And we're doing that under the direction of public health."

Due to these measures, staff have been encouraging family members to reach out to residents at Landmark Village to "stay in touch through whatever means they can," Scotland said.

"This past week has been a real change from what their normal everyday experience would be at that home," he added.

Speaking with Afternoon Driveafter Scotland, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said community members are distressed about the developments at Landmark Village.

"As we move through this crisis week after week, the distress and anxiety levels rise," Bradley said.