Third COVID-19 outbreak declared at Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton

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Published December 7, 2020 at 2:17 pm

Hamilton Health Sciences removes COVID-19 screening booths from hospitals
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For the third time in a span of three days, an outbreak was declared at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre in Hamilton.

The latest outbreak was declared Sunday (Dec. 6) after a patient on the F5 unit tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in isolation.

F5, a medicine unit, is now closed for admissions, said Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS).

“No visitors are currently allowed on the unit except on compassionate grounds,” said HHS. “Staff working on the unit will not work anywhere else until the outbreak is declared over.”

“Testing continues for all health care workers on F5 as well as any staff who may have spent prolonged periods of time on the unit. The remainder of patients on the unit are being tested as well.”

The confirmed case on F5 follows outbreak declarations on two other wards at the site—E3 (Dec. 3) and B3 (Dec. 4).

A total of nine patients, eight staff members, and a placement student are linked to the outbreaks and have tested positive. The staff members and the student are in self-isolation, according to HHS.

“Additional cleaning in the unit, beyond the enhanced cleaning practices that are already in place, is underway,” added a hospital spokesperson. “Patient care continues to be provided safely.”

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