Support, not blame, urged on Pugwash amid deadly COVID-19 outbreak at nursing home

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Public health has identified an illegal religious gathering for a COVID-19 outbreak that has left two people dead at a nursing home in Pugwash.

But community members are focused more on supporting East Cumberland Lodge than on blaming the outbreak.

Two residents of East Cumberland Lodge, a man and a woman, have died from the virus, the Nova Scotia Department of Health reported on Monday.

They were both 80 years old.

The deaths were the first at home linked to COVID-19 since the pandemic began in February 2020.

On Tuesday, the health ministry said two more staff and one resident had tested positive for the virus, for a total of 29 residents and 10 staff.

The rally in the Amherst area in late October drew around 100 people, most of whom were unvaccinated, public health said. While regular church services are considered essential and do not require proof of vaccination, any other non-essential community gathering requires vaccination.

It was also reported that masks were not worn during the event.

The denominational meeting included several churches and faith groups from the Annapolis Valley and Cumberland County.

The meeting was hosted by the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Amherst. The church did not respond to requests for comment.

Pastor unrepentant about the spreading event

In a sermon on Sunday, Pastor Robert Smith called the situation “difficult” and “unhappy,” but said neither he nor his church should be ashamed of what happened.

“People try to shame us but I will never be ashamed of what I do for Christ,” Smith said in the 30-minute sermon on the church’s YouTube channel.

The church’s Facebook site went public to private on Tuesday afternoon. Later that evening, the church also shut down its YouTube channel.

At a press briefing on Nov. 8, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Barbara Adams said a fine for the event’s organizers would be considered.

A phone message left with Amherst Police asking for an update on this possibility was not returned on Tuesday.

“It was unfair of them to do that,” said one resident who did not want to be identified, referring to unvaccinated people who attended the rally and brought the virus back to their communities.

Barbara Adams, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care, and Dr. Shelley Deeks, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nova Scotia hold a media availability on COVID-19 outbreaks that include a nursing home at Pugwash. – John McPhee

“However … I don’t like the way the blame is laid on the individuals in our community. These people feel pretty bad like that and have, you know, community members trying to point them out or find out who these people are. ”

The woman said the community should focus on lobbying the province to distribute rapid tests or establish a COVID-19 testing site in Pugwash. The nearest screening clinic is about a 35-minute drive away in Amherst.

“I just think it’s horrible that we don’t have any tests here at Pugwash. And you have to make an appointment, it’s not like you can just show up and then you have to wait until 73 hours just to get an answer.

The province does not appear to have any plans to implement testing in Pugwash. When asked for a response to those concerns, a spokeswoman said there are testing sites in Amherst, New Glasgow and Truro open seven days a week.

“The Amherst test site was able to accommodate all of the required tests,” Kristen Lipscombe said in an email Tuesday.

“In addition, targeted asymptomatic testing is available through our mobile teams in Amherst. We continue to make asymptomatic testing readily available to those at higher risk of having COVID-19, such as those with close contact and known exposures. “

Mobile test teams can be dispatched to perform asymptomatic testing in communities where there is known community spread, but Lipscombe said there is no evidence of community spread in the Pugwash area, “and those who are affected by the current epidemic long-term care facilities and their families have the opportunity to test. “

East Cumberland Lodge tests its residents and staff every 72 hours.

“I can just see their relief when they get their negative tests back,” the Pugwash resident said, referring to the staff she knows.

“It’s very stressful for them, very, very stressful. I can’t imagine having to walk into a building where you know there is COVID and then come home at night to your families. “

Hoping for the best result

Jennifer Houghtailing, who represents the Pugwash area on Cumberland County Council, also praised the nursing home management and staff for handling an extremely difficult situation.

“From my perspective speaking to the local nurses, who work very hard, my thoughts are with them, I think they are doing absolutely the best job they can,” Houghtailing said in an interview on Tuesday. “I think they’re very strong and support the residents of East Cumberland Lodge and I just think, you know, we’re all hoping for the best result here.”

A woman who posted on the nursing home’s Facebook page said her mother resided at the home and had tested positive for the virus.

“I’m so worried about her and everyone out there. It was so hard not being able to go and massage her back, punch her in the lungs, take care of her. I am grateful to all the staff who look after our families and wish I could be there to help.

When asked if there was a level of frustration in Pugwash given that the outbreak was triggered by an event in another community, “I think there are all kinds of levels going on in everything and this. it’s actually just incredibly sad to see people so divided.

“I hope that humanity can somehow cope without too much difficulty. But I think for the most part a lot of the community is really focused on sharing their support with those in need right now. “

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