MHRH’s COVID-19 outbreak could soon be declared over
By GILLIAN SLADE on December 8, 2020.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com
Alberta Health Services says there is now only one hospital in the south zone with a COVID-19 outbreak.
Previously, Chinook Regional Hospital, Oyen and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital had been dealing with an outbreak but now it is only MHRH.
Both Chinook Regional Hospital and Oyen’s outbreaks ended last week, said a spokesperson for AHS.
On Nov. 26 a patient in the geriatric acute care ward in MHRH tested positive for COVID-19 but there have been no additional cases, said the spokesperson on Monday.
On Thursday it will be 14 days since that case was identified. There is the potential for the outbreak to be over at that stage if no new cases arise.
As a precaution, outbreak control measures are put in place at continuing care facilities and group homes with a single confirmed case, according to Alberta Health’s website.
Some facilities, including food processing and manufacturing, are only reported as having an outbreak when there are five or more cases confirmed. At offices and other workplaces an outbreak would be identified if there are 10 confirmed cases.
A spokesperson for AHS, said that on Monday morning MHRH had a total of six patients with COVID-19 and none were in ICU. Across the south zone, there were another seven in Chinook Regional Hospital , with three in ICU, for a combined total of 13 hospitalizations in the south zone.
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