In consultation with the Region of Waterloo Public Health, a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the Medicine B Inpatient Unit (Wing C, level 4) of Cambridge Memorial Hospital. A hospital outbreak is declared when two or more patients and/or staff test positive for COVID (respiratory illness) that was acquired in hospital within a timeframe that is consistent with the epidemiology of the disease, and when there could be a link between the cases.
At this time, the outbreak has affected two patients.
Staff working in the outbreak unit are required to have a negative rapid antigen test daily before work. This includes staff that have worked on MED B since the outbreak has been declared and scheduled to other units. Students have been placed elsewhere in hospital for the duration of the outbreak. The following have also been added to enhance safety:
- Enhanced surveillance by swabbing and testing non-infected patients every three days
- Enhanced cleaning, especially to high touch areas.
- Visitors are restricted to the unit except in end-of-life situations. Virtual visits and phone connections for patients and families can be arranged.
Patients are still being admitted to the unit as the hospital is at capacity with limited beds. The outbreak may be declared over on November 18 if no new cases arise.
The safety and wellbeing of our staff, providers and patients is our top priority. We urge the public to stay at home when sick, practice physical distancing and wear a mask when in public as this highly transmissible disease has proven that anyone can be infectious, even when the person is asymptomatic.
