Coronavirus: 2 Guelph General Hospital employees test positive for COVID-19

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health says two employees at Guelph General Hospital have contracted the novel coronavirus.

The two cases were confirmed on Tuesday and hospital officials say both are self-isolating at home.

One was at home when symptoms developed and the other stopped working immediately when feeling ill, the hospital said in a statement.

While the two work at the hospital, neither live in Guelph and their positive tests have been linked to other public health units.

The hospital didn’t say which department the two worked in and it’s not known if any other employees have been impacted.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 is now in the wider community and everyone, including our staff, need to be extremely vigilant and follow Public Health’s directions,” Guelph General president and CEO Marianne Walker said.

The hospital stated that over the past month changes have been made to protect staff and patients. Cleaning has increased, visiting is tightly restricted, everyone who enters the hospital is being screened and all elective surgeries have been cancelled.

Hospital staff have also been self-screening for weeks.

“Even with this new development, our message to staff is the same as it is to the community we serve,” Walker said. “Wash your hands often. Practice social distancing. Self-monitor for symptoms such as a fever, new cough or shortness of breath.

“If you are sick, stay home and self-isolate. We are thankful our staff are following this protocol.”

The news comes just a day after St. Joseph’s Health Centre confirmed a man in his 80s had tested positive for COVID-19.

Public Health was expected to provide more information on Tuesday afternoon.

More to come.