Larga Baffin says clients and staff faced “minimal” risk of COVID-19 during recent case

The president of Larga Baffin says that Ottawa Public Health has concluded that a recent case of COVID-19 at the patient boarding home posed a “minimal” risk of exposure to clients and staff.

Following its assessment, Ottawa Public Health will not conduct COVID-19 tests at Larga Baffin, but it has asked all staff and clients to self-monitor for symptoms, said Larga Baffin’s president, Lynn Kilabuk, in a news release issued on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

A worker in the kitchen of Larga Baffin tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 30.

Kilabuk suggested that if you are experiencing symptoms, you should use the assessment tool provided on the Ontario government website.

“It is not recommended to get tested if you do not have symptoms as the risk of exposure is minimal,” Kilabuk said.

Larga Baffin, the patient boarding home for Nunavut Inuit from the Baffin region who are receiving health care in Ottawa, can accommodate up to 225 residents at one time.

Now, everyone inside Larga Baffin, including clients, staff and essential visitors, must wear masks at all times to protect themselves and each other and minimize the risk of transmission, she said.

“The safety and well-being of our clients and staff is our primary concern,” Kilabuk said in the release. “We ask that you adhere to all COVID-19 safety precautions, wear a mask at all times, wash your hands for 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer and keep a physical distance of six feet.”

Kilabuk also asked for people to be respectful and not pass judgment or blame anyone.

“The entire world is impacted by this pandemic. Remember we are all people dealing with the same fears and concerns,” she said.