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By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

NO CONFIRMED CASES

Amethyst House keeping COVID-19 at bay so far

May 8, 2020 | 7:00 PM

Officials at Amethyst House, a 48-unit supportive living facility on Red Deer’s south hill, hope their luck will continue as far as keeping COVID-19 outside their walls.

The facility, replacing the old one at the Buffalo Hotel, opened last December at the former Econo Lodge Inn on Gaetz South just north of 43 Street.

Christine Stewart, Executive Director for the Canadian Mental Health Association in Red Deer, which runs Amethyst House, says the building has had zero visitors in at least six weeks.

“That’s the hardest part, they all miss families and friends, but we have no cases of coronavirus in the facility. Congregate housing is the most prone too so that makes it even better news,” Stewart says. “We’ll continue to be vigilant as the government allows people to go back to normal, but Amethyst House will likely be one of the last because we have seniors and people with health issues that are very susceptible.”

At Amethyst House, staff disinfect common areas every four hours, says Stewart, and different areas and programs are halted for now, including the exercise room and the community kitchen. Masks and gloves are provided to everyone.

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“It is at times difficult because we have a variety of personalities. Some think this is all ridiculous, while others are terrified. We do have those people who think it’s not a big deal, but most are cautious about it.”

In partnership with the City of Red Deer, AHS and other local agencies, Stewart says a local COVID-19 response group secured 34 units at two confidential locations for people who need isolation but have no home to go to.

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“These are for individuals who are without a fixed address and have no means of isolating. Anyone who goes to a shelter or the ER and gets red flagged as ill, is tested and then they come to us. Staff are present 24/7, she says, and “AHS checks in twice a day. Some have been sick but none positive [for COVID-19].”

Not many of the units have been used, at least certainly not close to all of them at the same time, because of the area’s low reported COVID-19 statistics.

“People are complaining that not enough testing is happening, but the transient population has been very vigilant,” she says. No positive cases have been reported at the Safe Harbour-run shelter in Railyards, nor at the Mustard Seed shelter in Riverside Meadows. There are confirmed infections in Calgary, however.

Stewart adds there was concern at the onset that tenants at Amethyst House would not have banks to access their money — because many do not have debit cards — and that there’d be a lack of food.

However, banks did not close and the community has come through with many food donations, she shares, squashing all their biggest worries.

If you’d like to contribute packaged and non-pre-cooked food items to Amethyst House, Stewart says you can knock on the door or email cstewart@reddeer.cmha.ab.ca to arrange drop-off.