The Omicron variant has closed Queens Manor long-term care home to all visitors, caused staff shortages and created stress for staff and residents alike.

With the first people to test positive returning to the facility, Executive Director Andrew MacVicar says everything will be okay.

“As we have residents come off isolation from being positive and staff returning to work from being positive I think it’s a very important step towards realizing that we’re going to be okay and we can live with COVID-19, however that is defined in the future."

MacVicar also wants to eliminate the stigma associated with a positive test.

“It’s possible that you could do everything right, which our staff are doing, and be, “the one” to bring it into the building when in reality, there will never be a “one” person who brings it into the building, in all likelihood, with the volume of viral activity that’s out there,” said MacVicar.

MacVicar says staff have pulled together to ensure the residents are cared for and Queens Manor will again open the doors to designated caregivers the moment enough staff are in place to provide adequate screening and training of visitors.

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