The Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit have declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the Barrie, Ont., hospital’s transitional care unit, making it the second outbreak at the site this month.
On Jan. 9, a coronavirus outbreak was declared at the hospital’s integrated stroke and rehabilitation unit.
As of Monday evening, the transitional care unit has seen one COVID-19 case involving a patient, who died, and one involving a health-care worker.
The integrated stroke and rehabilitation unit has seen COVID-19 cases involving 18 health-care workers and nine patients, including two patient deaths.
“We are monitoring this situation carefully and taking all necessary action to ensure the safety of our patients, staff and physicians,” RVH’s president and CEO Janice Skot said in a statement.
“A full investigation is underway to conduct contact-tracing, and we have implemented our outbreak management protocol, which includes enhanced cleaning, surveillance, education and frequent communication to patients. As a further precaution, all staff who have recently provided care on the unit will be tested.”
RVH’s transitional care unit and integrated stroke and rehabilitation unit are both closed to new admissions and transfers.
RVH is restricting visitors and will be permitting them on compassionate grounds only.