Windsor-Essex's post-acute care hospital system has reported its first case of novel coronavirus.
Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare reported Friday afternoon that staff has been caring for its first patient testing positive for COVID-19. HDGH President and CEO Janice Kaffer said all necessary precautions and procedures had been in place since the patient's arrival.
"From the beginning of this pandemic, I have been very clear with our staff, physicians, partners and community that we were have planned to care for COVID-19 cases if we were called to do so," said Kaffer in a media release.
It was not clear when the positive patient was admitted to the hospital, and details on the patient are not being disclosed due to patient confidentiality guidelines, but officials said a patient was admitted on Wednesday who was recovering from the virus. Two additional recovering patients were admitted on Friday. Kaffer said HDGH has always had the capacity to help these patients.
"The hospital has created 72 overflow beds in the Emara building to support our acute care partners and these field hospital patients have begun to use those beds," said Kaffer.
Restrictions have been in place at HDGH since March 21, days after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic. Access has been limited to the main entrances of the Tayfour and Emara buildings, and then only for adult visitors to patients in end-of-life care.
HDGH also said that universal masking, screening points and several other measures have been implemented to protect everyone on the hospital's premises.
Complete information regarding HDGH's COVID-19 procedures and updates can be found on the hospital's official website.
