An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Officials say two patients in the medicine unit in Chatham have tested positive for the virus.
The hospital is working with public health to manage contact tracing, and getting in touch with any affected patients and families.
As part of the hospital’s pandemic response action plan, a number of additional initiatives have been implemented in response to the outbreak on the Medicine Unit.
“There would be no more admissions to that unit unless the individual is already identified as COVID-positive when coming to hospital, we look to have patients admitted elsewhere in the facility for that reason,” Marshall says. “There’s some additional cleaning protocols that take place with respect to lounges and break rooms.”
Marshall says a swab clinic is being held today for all staff at the hospital, and all patients in that unit will be treated as if there is the potential for further spread.
In terms of patient transfers from COVID hotspots around the GTA and patent shuffling between hospitals in Windsor and Sarnia, which has been taking place for the past few weeks, Marshall says that could continue in the event those patients are already COVID-positive.
CKHA is pausing all visitors and care partners to the medicine unit. However, there is no change for care partner access for end-of-life patients on the outbreak unit. Marshall says other exceptions could be made through the visitor restrictions appeal process.
Hospital officials stress CKHA is a safe place to receive care, and anyone experience an emergent acute care need, call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest emergency department.
