Interior Health says the COVID-19 outbreak at Brocklehurst Gemstone Care Centre in Kamloops is over.

The outbreak was declared on Jan. 13, and it eventually grew to 32 cases – 24 among residents and eight among staff. There were two deaths connected to this outbreak.

“We are pleased to declare another COVID-19 outbreak over,” said Interior Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Albert de Villiers. “As COVID-19 vaccination continues to roll out, we will be able to protect more of our most vulnerable members of our communities and prevent ongoing outbreaks in the future.”

This declaration from Interior Health comes one day after it declared two other Kamloops outbreaks over – at Westsyde Care Residences and the Highridge Home and Singh House.

The health authority says an outbreak is declared over when two incubation periods, or 28 days, have passed from the last onset of symptoms in a resident.

“I want to thank all staff for their dedication during this challenging outbreak and for everything they did to bring it to a close,” added IHA President and CEO, Susan Brown. “I extend our sincere sympathies to the families of the loved ones of those who passed away during the outbreak.”

Gemstone is privately operated by Trellis Seniors Services Ltc., with 125 publicly funded beds and five private long term care beds.

A COVID-19 outbreak remains active at The Florentine in Merritt, though it is stable with just the two cases among residents there.