Twenty-five infected after Moncton Hospital COVID-19 outbreak closes two units, postpones 23 elective surgeries
An outbreak on two units at the Moncton Hospital has now resulted in 14 patients and 11 staff members testing positive for COVID-19.
Units 4200 and 5600 (oncology and general surgery) have been closed since the outbreak was declared, with the last positive case confirmed Monday in unit 5600. Horizon Health says no one has died and symptoms have been mild.
As a result of the units being closed, 23 elective surgeries have had to be postponed.
Horizon Health staff said Tuesday that preliminary evidence shows the virus likely gained access through a visitor, and then an asymptomatic patient was moved from that unit, to another.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Gordon Dow says a patient becoming infected with COVID-19 during their hospital stay is a situation they want to 'avoid at all costs.'
"It gets in with patients, staff or visitors and in the first 16 months of the pandemic, we really were closed to visitation and so we didn't see visitors for that reason," he said. "So we've gradually been opening up to visitors right across North America and we are starting to see more and more cases related to visitors."
He said it's a reminder that the Delta variant is very infectious, and can transmit very quickly through communal settings.
The Moncton Hospital's executive director Christa Wheeler-Thorne says she believes the situation is now under control.
"The word outbreak carries certain connotations and stigma, particularly in the middle of a global pandemic. But I'd likely clarify that, as it applies in a hospital setting, we declare outbreaks as a means of triggering these heightened protocols and delivering a swift and thorough response," she said. "That's what we did in this case and the results show these measures are effective and in place for a reason."
Dr. Dow says they have to wait for two viral cycles -- or 28 days -- since the last positive case before an outbreak can be declared over. The last positive case within unit 4200 was identified on Oct. 16 and for unit 5600 it was Oct. 18.
Wheeler-Thorne says the rate of vaccination among staff at the Moncton Hospital is high, and testing will continue.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.