Journal staff
An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared in the General Medicine Unit at Bluewater Health, officials said Friday.
“We are confident we are able to get this outbreak under control, as we have each time we have had COVID in our hospital,” chief of staff Mike Haddad said in a news release. “Contract tracing is underway and over the next 48 hours we will determine appropriate next steps to ensure continued care and safety of both our staff and patients.”
The outbreak was declared in consultation with Lambton Public Health, noting that two or more linked positive cases of COVID within a 14-day period is considered an outbreak.
“An outbreak is declared when there is evidence of transmission of the disease within the hospital on a single unit,” the release stated, adding that enhanced infection prevention and control measures have been implemented. “New admissions to the Medicine program will be to the Acute Medicine unit.”
Officials said there are no other operational changes; the emergency department remains open and scheduled appointments for clinics and surgeries are uninterrupted.
Lambton Public Health recorded two more deaths and six new cases of COVID-19 Friday, bringing the total case count to 1,736. The number of active cases dropped to 190, with 28 more resolved. The deaths bring the total to date, to 35.
There are currently 12 active outbreaks in the community, including three unnamed workplaces, one at Sarnia Jail, and eight long term care/retirement homes.
Ontario logged 2,662 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, and 87 deaths linked to the virus.