‘Cluster’ of health-care workers at Hamilton hospital test positive for COVID-19
Published April 29, 2020 at 12:07 pm
Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) confirmed Tuesday night (April 28) that two health-care workers in the same department at the Juravinski Cancer Centre have tested positive for COVID-19.
Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) confirmed Tuesday night (April 28) that two health-care workers in the same department at the Juravinski Cancer Centre have tested positive for COVID-19.
In a press release, HHS says that in consultation with Hamilton Public Health Services (PHS) they identified the ‘cluster’ of cases after the one worker tested positive last Friday (April 24) and the other on Monday (April 27).
“Other healthcare workers who met exposure criteria with the two individuals are being notified,” the release says. “No patient contacts for these health-care workers have been identified.”
HHS says that both individuals left work immediately upon experiencing symptoms and notifying HHS Employee Health Services.
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“Both were also following HHS’ principle of universal masking, which went into effect at all sites on Friday, April 24,” the release says.
“All steps are being taken to ensure that cancer treatment for patients continues to be safely provided according to their individual care plans.”
Additionally, HHS says the area where they worked is being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
A similar cluster of health-care workers infected with COVID-19 was identified late last month at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Special Care Nursery.
In that case, three employees tested positive and an outbreak at the facility was declared but no other cases were identified.
As of Tuesday, PHS is reporting that there are 421 cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton and that 19 people in the city have died as a result of the virus.
Approximately 56 per cent of the novel coronavirus cases — 237 cases — in Hamilton have been resolved.
Photo courtesy HHS Facebook page
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