Main entrance at Bluewater Health's Sarnia hospital. Photo by Meghan Bond.Main entrance at Bluewater Health's Sarnia hospital. Photo by Meghan Bond.
Sarnia

COVID outbreak declared in unit at Bluewater Health

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in a unit at Bluewater Health in Sarnia.

The hospital, in consultation with Lambton Public Health, said Friday afternoon the outbreak is in the General Medicine unit.

In a release Saturday, Lambton Public Health said it received positive COVID test results for two staff and one patient.

According to provincial directive, two or more linked positive cases within a 14-day period is considered an outbreak. An outbreak is declared when there is evidence of transmission of the disease within the hospital on a single unit.

Chief of Staff Dr. Mike Haddad said enhanced infection prevention and control measures have been implemented.

"We are confident we are able to get this outbreak under control, as we have each time we have had COVID in our hospital," said Dr. Haddad in a statement. "Contract tracing is underway and over the next 48 hours we will determine appropriate next steps to ensure continued care and safety of both our staff and patients."

The hospital said new admissions to the Medicine program will be to the Acute Medicine unit but there are no other operational changes to report at this time. The Emergency Department remains open and scheduled appointments for clinics and surgeries are uninterrupted.

There was an outbreak at Bluewater Health in Sarnia for ten days in June with four staff testing positive.

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