As of February 11, 2022, three cases linked to health-care acquired COVID-19 were identified on Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) Medicine B Unit, located at the Chatham Site.
As such, CK Public Health has formally declared CKHA to be in outbreak, hospital officials say.
“CK Public Health will work closely with CKHA to manage the outbreak within the Medicine B Unit and will continue to work in consultation until the outbreak is declared over,” hospital officials said in a media release.
“CK Public Health is communicating with impacted patients and families for the contact tracing process. CK Public Health contacts individuals who have been exposed and informs them of appropriate measures to take.”
As part of CKHA’s pandemic response action plan and in alignment with the hospital’s infection prevention and control guidelines, a number of additional initiatives have been implemented in response to the outbreak on the Medicine Unit.
CKHA will continue following these measures until Chatham-Kent’s Medical Officer of Health rescinds the outbreak order.
“CKHA’s Essential Visitor and Care Partner Access policy will remain in Phase 1 “Green” during this time except Medicine B which will revert to Phase 2 “Yellow” for the time being,” hospital officials say.
“This includes inpatients will not be permitted visitors at this time, unless an exception applies. There is no change to care partner access for end-of-life patients on the outbreak unit and other exceptions may be permitted through the established visitor restrictions appeals process.”
Since the onset of this pandemic, CKHA has taken decisive and immediate action with the ever-evolving dynamics of COVID-19, hospital officials added.
The safety of staff, physicians, patients, care partners, visitors and the community at large, has and will remain the top priority.
“CKHA is reminding the community that the hospital remains a safe place to receive care,” hospital officials say.
“If you are experiencing an emergent acute care need, please do not hesitate to dial 911 or visit your nearest Emergency Department.”
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available, CKHA officials added.
