While an outbreak of COVID-19 at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital has been declared over by AHS, officials with the health provider say a unit-specific outbreak remains in effect.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Regional hospital still has a COVID-19 outbreak.
There were conflicting reports Thursday night when Alberta Health Services south zone tweeted that an outbreak at the Medicine Hat Regional hospital had been declared over. At the same time, an outbreak was listed on the AHS website dated Sept. 2.
Gwen Wirth, director of communications for AHS South zone, told the News on Friday that the hospital’s outbreak had been cleared, but one still remained in a unit within the hospital. Wirth could not say due to AHS protocol which unit had the outbreak.
There are 28 inpatients at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital with six in ICU. In AHS’s South zone there are currently 62 COVID-19 positive inpatients, with 14 in ICU.
AHS also announced Friday it is postponing non-urgent surgeries and procedures across all zones. These postponed procedures include scheduled surgeries, endoscopy and outpatient visits.
AHS issued the following statement: “These postponements will help free up space in our hospitals for patients who need a higher level of care, and support redeployment of frontline staff and resources to areas of greatest need … The specific number of postponements are yet to be determined, and we will provide further updates as they are available.”
