AHS has suspended visitation at health-care facilities across the South Zone.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Visiting at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital has been suspended and one person in acute care has tested positive for COVID-19.
A spokesperson for Alberta Health Services says the decision to stop visitation went into effect Monday and applies across the south zone, not just Medicine Hat.
On Nov. 26, one patient in geriatric acute care at MHRH tested positive for COVID-19 but this was not the reason for the restrictions, AHS says.
“An outbreak has been declared on an acute care geriatric unit on Nov. 26, 2020. One patient linked to this unit has tested positive.”
The decision to implement the visitor restrictions was, however, based on the COVID restrictions announced by the provincial government last week and the growing number of cases in the south zone, the spokesperson said.
MHRH is not unique in having a patient test positive for COVID. About 20 facilities across the province are listed on a government website showing outbreaks, including three in the south zone (see link below).
In the south zone, Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge is on the list, as well as Big Country Hospital in Oyen, and now Medicine Hat.
“AHS South Zone has made the difficult decision to limit designated family/support and visitation at all health-care facilities, zone wide. This decision was not made lightly. We must continue to do all we can to protect our patients & the staff caring for them.”
AHS suggests the visitor restrictions will be in effect for at least the next two weeks and then be re-evaluated.
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17001.aspx
