Letter from Dania Executive Director Lui Franciosi — April 2023

April 10, 2023

Dear Residents and Families of Dania,

I want to provide you with an update on our COVID-19 status and brief you on other events of the past month at Dania.

At Dania Home, we had one staff member who tested positive with COVID-19 and at Dania Manor, 5 residents and 1 staff member – all with mild symptoms. We continue to follow the necessary Fraser Health protocols to monitor and contain the cases, which will likely end this week.  Again, we do appreciate your understanding and patience.  When we have more information, we will immediately share it with you also on our website:  https://www.dania.bc.ca/covid-19-status-updates/

On April 6, 2023, BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the end of the respiratory season.  This means that visitors are no longer required to provide proof of vaccination when entering long-term care and assisted living; visitors are no longer required to perform rapid testing when entering long-term care and assisted living; and universal masking is no longer required.  However, staff are still required to mask based on individual point-of-care risk assessments. She also said that screeners are no longer required, but they will continue to be ‘Ambassadors’ to greet visitors, offer masks or rapid tests if visitors ask for them, or perform any other duties that help residents, e.g., support recreation events.  These staff members are expected to return to their Screener role this Fall when the respiratory season begins again.

Lastly, I would like to invite you to attend our next family council meeting on Monday, April 17, 2023, at 6:30pm at Dania Home, or virtually for those unable to attend in person.  Refreshments will be available to all of you that evening. Please find enclosed the Zoom meeting details below:

If you have any questions, please contact me anytime. I am always available to you by phone or email.  Thank you and stay safe.