COVID OUTBREAK AT SOUTH MUSKOKA HOSPITAL MARKS OFFICIAL RETURN OF DEADLY VIRUS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — The omnipresent corona virus has struck again at a local hospital site.

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) is reporting COVID among four staff and one patient as of Thursday.

The virus that struck global fears and tens of thousands of deaths just a couple years ago is back at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital.

For many who have long claimed — since its public demise the past two years or more — that they’ve had the disease at least this summer the news is not surprising.

What is surprising is how it gained a foothold again in one of our hospitals.

Precautions, we were promised, were in place.

Have they let their guards down?

MAHC says the North Wing at their SMMH site is under a unit-specific COVID-19 confirmed outbreak status after consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU).

This status follows the confirmation of COVID-19 in four patients and one staff member, they said in a release Aug. 15.

They say to maintain the safety of our patients, staff, and community, the following measures have been put in place:

  • Visitation Restrictions: Visitation is currently limited to one essential caregiver per patient. General visitors are temporarily not permitted during the outbreak period. All visitors are required to wear a surgical mask and other necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by our infection prevention and control protocols.
  • Suspension of Group Activities: All group activities within the North Wing are temporarily suspended.
  • Procedural and Transfer Precautions: Enhanced PPE requirements are in effect for all transfers and procedures, including surgical masks for patients and eye protection, N95 masks, gowns, and gloves for staff. Specific isolation precautions are also in place for high-risk exposure patients and COVID-positive patients.
  • Discharge and Transfer Protocols: Discharges and transfers to other facilities will continue following a discussion with the receiving facility to ensure safe transport. Discharges to long-term care, retirement homes, and group homes will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Patient Masking and Isolation: Patients are required to wear masks while receiving care and will remain in isolation until cleared by the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team.

For any questions or concerns, please contact the IPAC Team at (705) 645-4404 ext. 6004.

A worrisom COVID outbreak at SMMH follows several cases reported by members of the public this summer. Photo file

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