A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s complex continuing care unit.
As of Wednesday, six cases of health care-acquired COVID-19 were identified on the fourth floor at the Chatham site, officials stated.
“CK public health will work closely with (the health alliance) to manage the outbreak within the complex continuing care unit and will continue to work in consultation until the outbreak is declared over,” hospital officials added in a release.
“As part of (the hospital group’s) pandemic response action plan and in alignment with the hospital’s infection prevention and control guidelines, a number of additional initiatives have been implemented in response to the outbreak.”
The health alliance will continue following these measures until public health rescinds the outbreak order.
Officials reiterated that the hospital remains a safe place to receive care. Anyone experiencing an emergent acute care need is asked to still call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department.
“Since the onset of this pandemic, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has taken decisive and immediate action with the ever-evolving dynamics of COVID-19,” officials said. “The safety of staff, physicians, patients, care partners, visitors and the community at large has and will remain the top priority.”
According to weekly health unit data released Wednesday, there were 43 more confirmed cases of the virus in Chatham-Kent, taking into account testing capacity. There were no new deaths reported.