Four cases of “health-care acquired COVID-19” detected as of Tuesday, has resulted in an outbreak being declared in the Medicine A Unit of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Four cases of “health-care acquired COVID-19” detected Tuesday has resulted in an outbreak being declared in the Medicine A unit of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Chatham-Kent public health will work closely with health alliance officials to manage the outbreak and will continue to work in consultation until the outbreak is declared over, stated a media release from the hospital group on Tuesday.
As part of the hospital’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 on the unit, stated the release.
“(The health alliance) will continue following these measures until Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health rescinds the outbreak order.”
The hospital group’s essential visitor and care partner access policy will remain in Phase 3 “Green” during this time, except for the Medicine A unit, which will have no visitors or care partners during the outbreak period.
Exceptions may be permitted through the established visitor restrictions appeals process, the release added.
“Since the onset of this pandemic, (the health alliance) has taken decisive and immediate action with the ever-evolving dynamics of COVID-19,” the release said. “The safety of staff, physicians, patients, care partners, visitors and the community at large has, and will remain, the top priority.”
The hospital group emphasized the hospital remains a safe place to receive care.
“If you are experiencing an emergent acute care need, please do not hesitate to dial 911 or visit your nearest emergency department,” the release said.