COVID-19 outbreak declared at Guelph General Hospital

GUELPH – In consultation with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, Guelph General Hospital declared a COVID-19 outbreak on its 4 East unit after two patients and one staff member tested positive.

The hospital has taken several steps to help patients and keep the virus from spreading, a Dec. 22 press release from the hospital stated.

These steps include: putting all the patients in the unit on contact precautions, COVID testing of all patients and staff in the unit, closing the unit to visitors and increasing the frequency of cleaning, including in high touch/high traffic areas.

It has been at least seven months since the last outbreak of COVID-19 at the hospital.

“Our ongoing priority is to ensure the safety of patients and staff who have worked diligently to limit the spread of COVID-19 during this challenging time,” stated president and CEO Marianne Walker, in the release.

“We are greatly concerned about the rapid surge of COVID-19 cases in the community and ask everyone do their part to reduce community spread.”

As long as no new cases appear in the unit, the outbreak can be declared over Dec. 30, officials stated.