Two seniors die in West Vancouver COVID outbreak

Recent COVID-19 outbreaks at two seniors facilities on the North Shore have resulted in the deaths of two elderly residents.

The two seniors who died were both residents of Amica’s Lions Gate seniors home in West Vancouver, who had tested positive for the virus. They died on the weekend of Oct. 22 – 24, according to an Amica spokesperson.

“They were both long-time residents who were an integral part of our community. They will be dearly missed,” the company said in a statement.

The two seniors are the first to die in a declared outbreak at a seniors home on the North Shore since the outbreak at West Vancouver’s Capilano Care Centre last winter.

An outbreak was declared at Amica Lions Gate by Vancouver Coastal Health, Oct. 16.

According to Amica, in addition to the seniors who died, there have been six residents and nine staff members who have tested positive for the virus at the seniors home. Of those, eight staff have since recovered from COVID-19 infections.

The outbreak occurred despite 100 per cent of staff members and residents being fully vaccinated, according to the Amica spokesperson.

Concerns about increasing numbers of “breakthrough” cases in fully vaccinated people recently prompted the province to begin a rollout of booster shots, beginning with the most vulnerable and elderly.

Residents at Amica Lions Gate received booster shots last week, according to the company.

A second outbreak was declared Oct. 22 at Amica’s Edgemont Village seniors home, in North Vancouver.

As of Monday, six elderly residents and 12 staff members there had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the company. Two of the staff members have since recovered.

Most residents who have contracted COVID are experiencing mild symptoms, while others have "no symptoms,” according to a statement released by Amica.

All of those people are also fully vaccinated and continue to isolate, according to the company. One staff member has also recovered from the virus and is no longer considered an active case.

According to Amica, all symptomatic residents and staff members at the facility have been tested for COVID-19. All residents and staff at the facility are fully vaccinated and residents received booster shots Oct. 25, according to Amica.

Seniors on the affected units at both of the facilities are now required to stay in their suites, including for meals, and visits – except for essential or end-of-life visits – have been put on hold, as have group activities.

The outbreaks in the two care homes are the first to be declared in North Shore care homes since the “fourth wave” of the pandemic began this fall.

During the first wave of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, an outbreak at the Amica facility in Edgemont led to the deaths of three residents.

A total of 151 care home residents in eight care homes on the North Shore contracted COVID in the first year of the pandemic, and 52 residents died.

Recent outbreaks in a number of other care homes in the province have sparked concerns about why elderly vaccinated residents have been contracting the virus and how that virus is being introduced to care homes. As of Monday, there were outbreaks declared at 33 long-term care and assisted living facilities.

This month, it became mandatory for all staff at long-term care and assisted living homes to be vaccinated.

The province is now in the process of offering booster shots of the vaccine to residents of all long-term care and assisted living homes.

Vancouver Coastal Health did not respond to a request for comment.