Outbreak of COVID-19 on Seventh Floor Declared Over
In consultation with Waterloo Region Public Health, St. Mary’s is pleased to today declare over an outbreak COVID-19 on the seventh floor. A status update on an ongoing outbreak on our fourth floor is also provided:
Seventh floor:
- With the outbreak now over on the seventh floor, the unit will reopen today for admission of non-COVID related and COVID-resolved patients.
- Nine patients and one staff member are associated with the outbreak and we wish them well in their recovery.
- Care Partner visits can now resume
- Enhanced cleaning continues throughout the unit.
Fourth floor:
Three patients are now associated with the outbreak. To date there are no staff associated with the outbreak. Patients will be re-tested later in the week.
The following measures continue:
- Droplet contact precautions
- Cohorting of COVID-positive patients
- Dedicated staffing in the area where COVID patients are cohorted.
- Enhanced cleaning throughout the unit
We thank everyone involved for their efforts in managing through these outbreaks. The impact is significant for patients and families, and the teams working in the affected areas, and across the hospital. It has required a lot of flexibility and adjustment, which has been much appreciated.
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In consultation with Waterloo Region Public Health, St. Mary’s has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 on January 20 on its seventh floor involving two patients. This follows an investigation and heightened measures initiated on January 19 when the first of two patients on the unit tested positive. Our thoughts are with the patients and we wish them well in their recovery.
Measures initiated on January 19 continue, including the following:
- The seventh floor is closed to new admissions.
- Droplet contact precautions are in effect throughout the unit.
- Staff will remain dedicated to that unit.
- Enhanced cleaning continues.
- Care Partner visits are temporarily suspended, except in exceptional circumstances, such as when a patient is at end of life or if the care team determines there could be a marked improvement in a patient’s condition with a visit. Efforts have been enhanced to connect patients by phone or virtually with Care Partners.
“We are working with our teams across the hospital to actively manage this outbreak as well as the COVID-19 outbreak on our 3 East Unit,” said President Lee Fairclough. “Outbreaks do translate to further pressure on capacity. We appreciate everyone in our community who has been diligently observing the emergency stay-at-home orders and other public health measures. We ask for your continued support to reduce community transmission of COVID-19 so that we can preserve beds for those who need them for COVID and non-COVID care.”
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Posted January 19, 2021
St. Mary’s General Hospital is investigating a potential outbreak of COVID-19 on its seventh floor. This comes after one confirmed case in a current inpatient who may have acquired the virus at St. Mary’s. Our thoughts are with them as the investigation begins.
The following measures are in place as the investigation gets underway:
- The seventh floor is closed to new admissions.
- All patients on the unit will be swabbed today.
- Droplet contact precautions are in effect.
- Contact tracing is underway and anyone deemed to require testing will be contacted.
- Care Partner Visits are temporarily suspended except when a patient is at end of life or if the care team determines there could be a marked improvement in a patient’s condition with a visit. Efforts to enhance virtual and phone visits for patients with Care Partners will begin.
- Seventh floor staff will remain dedicated to that unit and not float to other units. Any staff who work in another facility are obligated to inform that facility.
- Enhanced cleaning will continue
- Leadership support will be provided on the unit.
Updates will be provided as the investigation continues.