Island Health announced Wednesday night it has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) after evidence of transmission in the hospital’s transitional care unit.
Five staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
According to Island Health, at this time, the outbreak is limited to the one unit, which is currently closed to admissions and visitors.
Island Health said upon declaring the outbreak it “immediately implemented precautions, including enhanced cleaning and contact tracing to protect the health of all staff, medical staff and patients.”
“Island Health has implemented comprehensive strategies to prevent and respond to COVID-19 in all acute and long-term care facilities,” the health authority said in a release.
“Island Health has informed all patients on the unit, and all patients are being tested. In addition, Island Health is in the process of informing families of patients who are unable to share information of the outbreak.”
The emergency department at NRGH is still open and Island Health said there has been no impact to other areas of the hospital at this time.
For more information about COVID-19, visit: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19
This is the first COVID-19 outbreak that has been declared at a Vancouver Island healthcare facility.
Nanaimo has also seen a COVID-19 exposure at John Barsby Secondary on Nov. 5 and 6, and a COVID-19 cluster at Dover Bay Secondary on the dates Nov. 2, Nov. 5 and Nov. 6.
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