In consultation with the Region of Waterloo Public Health, a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the Medicine A Unit (Wing A, level 2) of Cambridge Memorial Hospital.
A hospital outbreak is declared when two or more patients and/or staff test positive for an infectious illness that was acquired in hospital within a timeframe that is consistent with the epidemiology of the disease, and when there is a link between the cases.
The number of outbreaks are increasing in hospital, congregate and long-term care settings.
According to the latest dashboard, there are 15 outbreaks in high risk settings throughout the region.
Visit the Region of Waterloo Public Health site to see all declared COVID outbreaks within the region.
At this time, the hospital's Medicine A outbreak is limited to three 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 Medicine A since the outbreak has been declared and are scheduled in another unit.
The following precautions have been added to enhance safety:
- Masks to be used by staff at all times while in the unit; face shields to be worn within two meters of patients.
- All patients will be placed in airborne/droplet/contact precautions Enhanced surveillance by swabbing and testing non-infected patients every three days until the outbreak is declared over.
- 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.
- Signage has been posted at entrances
The hospital says the outbreak may be declared over on October 20 if no new cases arise.
The safety and wellbeing of our staff, providers and patients is our top priority. All visitors to the hospital are encouraged to practice physical distancing, wear a hospital-grade surgical mask and perform frequent hand hygiene to help limit the spread of COVID and other infectious diseases.
Visit www.cmh.org for the latest information.
