Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge viral tests come back empty; negative for COVID-19

In this May 2015, file photo, the Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge on Montreal Road in Cornwall. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)

CORNWALL – A mysterious illness, characterized as an “outbreak” by the region’s medical officer of health, has come back negative for COVID-19.

In fact, it’s come back “completely negative” for a whole array of different viruses, including five different strains of flu as well as the rhinovirus.

Lodge Administrator Steven Golden told Cornwall Newswatch the swab tests check for COVID-19, adenovirus, four other strains of coronavirus, enterovirus, influenza A, A (H1N1), A H3 and B, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus and RSV A/B.

“The Eastern Ontario Health Unit advised us that residents who were tested came back as completely negative for all tested viruses,” Golden said.

At this point, it’s a mystery what caused four residents to come under the weather.

On a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said they had been symptomatic and worried it may have been COVID-19.

Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge has 132 beds in private and semi-private rooms.

The lodge had enacted its pandemic plan Wednesday and was monitoring all residents and staff.