Medicine Hat Regional Hospital is operating as normal after it was locked down following an online threat on Tuesday night. --FILE PHOTO
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
A reliable source tells the News that patients with COVID-19 at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital are not being isolated from other non-COVID patients.
Alberta Health Services confirmed Wednesday afternoon that there are two cases at MHRH, one of whom is in ICU.
In an emailed statement, AHS said that all “Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedures are being followed to minimize the risk of transmission.”
AHS says all of its hospitals and community sites are “developing plans for patient cohorting, in consultation with IPC.”
A dictionary definition of cohorting is “grouping.”
“This may mean that some sites will have designated COVID-19 units, floors, or rooms,” reads the statement.
AHS says grouping COVID-19 patients together provides the best protection for patients and staff and will preserve personal protective equipment.
AHS also says decisions are still being made on whether to group COVID patients together depending on how many cases there are in one hospital.
“All decisions to cohort patients will be done in consultation with Infection Prevention and Control, based on best evidence,” reads the statement.
