Nine residents of Vision Nursing Home in Sarnia will be moved to Bluewater Health today.

Vision has been struggling with a COVID-19 outbreak since April 23. Twenty four residents and 24 staff members have contracted the virus – seven have died.

Vision management asked the hospital to step in and help earlier this month as the number of people becoming infected began to rise. About 20 Bluewater Health staff have been working in the home this week.

Officials at the hospital say there are nine residents who are currently COVID-19 positive and will be moved to Bluewater Health for care Friday.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Bluewater Health has cared for almost 60 people with the virus and according to the news release is “well-versed in virus management, and infection control.” There are four people who have tested positive with COVID-9 in the hospital now.

Officials say removing the residents from Vision will help the home return to a more normalized state, return more staff and continue to enhance personal protective equipment and infection control practices with the help of the Bluewater Health .

All Vision residents will be returning to Vision Nursing Home as soon as they are COVID-free.