Alberta Health Services confirmed Sunday that there is a COVID-19 outbreak at the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary.
AHS declared the outbreak on Aug. 20 due to six positive cases in patients and staff on a mental health and addictions unit.
“The unit is undergoing a deep clean and remains a safe and appropriate place for patients to continue to be treated,” AHS said in a statement.
Contact tracing is underway, the health authority said, and all patients and staff have been offered COVID-19 testing.
“The situation is being closely monitored and reviewed by many health professionals, and patients and unit staff are being regularly screened for symptoms and signs related to COVID-19,” AHS said.
“We have also increased our symptom screening and infection prevention and control measures on the unit to further ensure the continued safety of all patients and staff.”
The centre remains open.
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“It is a safe and appropriate facility to receive emergency and scheduled care procedures,” AHS said.
According to the province, outbreaks are declared when there are two or more COVID-19 cases in continuing care facilities or when cases in other facilities hit five.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Monday the PLC currently has five active COVID-19 cases and the source of the outbreak is under investigation.
“That unit is not receiving new admissions, and all staff and patients who are affected have been put into appropriate measures with respect to isolation, if they’re a case, and any close contacts are being put into quarantine to make sure there’s no further risk of ongoing spread,” she said.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro said Monday that the government is concerned whenever there is an outbreak anywhere in the province.
He stressed how well the “talented” medical officers of health are responding to the outbreaks.
“We’ll continue to make sure they have the resources they need to be able to deal with these situations,” Shandro said.
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