Just one patient at Burnaby Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19, but health officials have declared an outbreak in case the infection came from the hospital, according to the Fraser Health Authority's chief medical health officer.
“Given that we believe that it was possible that the patient acquired his or her infection at the hospital, out of an abundance of caution, we have declared an outbreak while we investigate,” Dr. Elizabeth Brodkin told media Tuesday morning.
Burnaby Hospital popped up on Fraser Health’s current outbreaks webpage on Sunday.
On Tuesday, Fraser Health president and CEO Dr. Victoria Lee announced one patient from the inpatient telemetry and cardiac inpatient unit had tested positive for COVID-19.
“The patient is in self-isolation at home at this time,” Lee said. “Upon being notified of this case, Fraser Health declared an outbreak and took immediate actions to address it.”
Lee said all patients and staff on the unit are being monitored for symptoms, and Fraser Health is working to identify anyone who may have been exposed.
The hospital remains open, but the affected unit is not accepting any new patients, according to Lee.
Enhanced cleaning and infection-control measures have been put in place, she said.
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