February 2, 2021 8:10 PM
The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 in a unit at St. Marys Memorial Hospital.
According to HPHA, five positive cases of the virus were identified in the hospital unit on Tuesday, one of which is a patient. The status of the outbreak is determined after two cases of COVID-19 are confirmed within 14 days, both of which may have been contracted in hospital.
“All epidemic control measures are in place and there has been no transmission to other patient care areas of the hospital,” said hospital president and CEO Andrew Williams . “We are working closely with Huron Perth Public Health and will ensure that staff, patients and family members / caregivers are kept up to date with all necessary information.
The healthcare alliance says all affected staff are currently isolating themselves at home and will not return to work until their period of self-isolation is over and they are asymptomatic.
St. Marys transferred the COVID positive patient to the alliance’s Stratford General Hospital site.
Visits to the inpatient unit are restricted with the exception of palliative care patients. The hospital says healthcare teams will regularly educate families and caregivers about possibilities for virtual connections. There will be no new admissions to the unit, but the hospital remains open for outpatient appointments, and the emergency department is also available for those in need of care.
The hospital added that it will contact patients for any appointment changes, such as scheduling, or to switch from an in-person appointment to a phone / virtual appointment.
–
–
