Hospital COVID-19 outbreak declared over

PALMERSTON – A COVID-19 outbreak at Palmerston and District Hospital is now over.

On Sept. 14, the Wellington Health Care Alliance (WHCA), which operates the three hospitals in the county, issued a press release stating Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) has confirmed the news.

The outbreak was declared on Sept. 7, after two inpatients and five staff at the hospital tested positive for the virus.

Visiting hours have now resumed, but WHCA officials say people should not come to the hospital to visit if they are feeling unwell, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID.

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Cases

The Palmerston outbreak was the first declared at a local hospital in many months.

According to a Sept. 13 WDGPH update, there are currently 92 COVID-19 cases in the region – more than double the total (43) from a week ago.

Fourteen of those cases are within Wellington County.

Regional cases had dropped to a low of seven in July and early August.

COVID-19 cases have been on the rise across the province over the last several weeks.