Hamilton dialysis nurse tests positive for COVID-19
Published March 26, 2020 at 7:31 pm
Hamilton Public Health confirmed on Thursday (March 26) that a dialysis nurse at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) has tested positive for COVID-19.
Hamilton Public Health confirmed on Thursday (March 26) that a dialysis nurse at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) has tested positive for COVID-19.
The nurse, who lives in Hamilton, worked their last shift on Friday, March 20 at the Charlton Campus dialysis unit.
On Thursday, March 19 the nurse also provided dialysis care at Hamilton Health Sciences’ (HHS) General Hospital, the city says in a press release.
As per protocols, the nurse wore personal protective equipment including a face shield, procedure mask and gloves.
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The release says that the nurse did not have symptoms at work and started experiencing symptoms last Saturday (March 21), when she was told not to return to work.
The release says the nurse was tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday and a positive result was confirmed later that evening. She is currently experiencing mild symptoms and is in self-isolation at home.
Hamilton Public Health is actively conducting contact tracing in collaboration with SJHH and HHS to determine who the nurse would have been in contact with, the release says.
Hamilton Public Health will be in contact with any patients who were in direct contact with the nurse.
Occupational Health & Safety at both SJHH and HHS is in the process of contacting all staff and physicians who have had direct contact with the nurse.
SJHH and HHS are taking extra steps to actively screen and protect the health of staff, patients and the community, including thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the area where the nurse worked.
As of noon Thursday, there are 43 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton.
Photo courtesy The Canadian Press
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