The main entrance sign at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. (File photo by Jake Kislinsky)The main entrance sign at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. (File photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Chatham

UPDATE: COVID-19 outbreak declared at CKHA

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the COVID-19 unit at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA).

The hospital said a staff member and a patient at the COVID-19 unit in Chatham tested positive for the virus on Wednesday. CKHA CEO Lori Marshall said the patient had a suspected case and hadn't tested positive for the virus when they came to the hospital.

She added all admissions to the COVID-19 unit are on hold unless it's a confirmed positive case (no more suspected cases). Marshall also said there will no longer be any transfers out of the COVID-19 unit to other units unless it's medically necessary for those patients to get a higher level of care and staff at the COVID-19 unit will work at that unit only.

Marshall emphasized that staff are following all proper personal protective equipment protocols. She is not sure how the transmission occurred. CK Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said that is under investigation. Colby said mistakes can be made and breakdowns can happen, although no systemic breakdowns in health and safety protocols have been found at the hospital.

An outbreak is declared as soon as two or more staff and/or patients test positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period in a specified area (unit/floor/service). CKHA said the affected staff member is isolating at home and working closely with CK Public Health to trace contacts. CK Public Health contacts staff who have been exposed and informs them of appropriate measures to take.

"CKHA continues to monitor patients for symptoms of COVID-19. Any patient who develops symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 while in hospital will be isolated and tested," said CKHA in a statement. "We are confident we are able to get this outbreak under control, as we have put proper measures in place and continue to work closely with CK Public Health. We thank them for their ongoing support as we work together to keep our patients and families safe."

CKHA said several infection prevention and control initiatives have been implemented in response to the outbreak and the hospital will continue following those measures until the Medical Officer of Health for Chatham-Kent Public Health rescinds the outbreak order. Marshall said the rest of the hospital continues to operate normally and encourages patients to continue coming for care if they need it.

Marshall said 11 of the 12 beds in the COVID-19 unit are currently occupied. Marshall said the hospital has seven positive cases and four negative or probable cases in the COVID-19 unit as of Thursday morning. There are also two positive cases in the Intensive Care Unit. The number of local contagious people hospitalized is down to two after the release of a patient. She said the numbers may seem confusing because some of the contagious patients were transferred from elsewhere and are not included in the local numbers. Marshall said three patients were recently transferred from outside of the region while the others were either brought by ambulance to the Chatham hospital or chose Chatham because of it was closer to their homes.

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