A COVID-19 outbreak at The Moncton Hospital has now spread to 14 patients and 11 staff.
The outbreak has not caused any deaths and those infected are not showing severe symptoms, according to Christa Wheeler-Thorne, executive director of The Moncton Hospital.
Thus far, 23 elective surgeries have been postponed due to the outbreak.
As our newsroom reported on Tuesday, the outbreak affecting the oncology and general surgery units is now contained.
After Horizon detected the first case last week, they say immediate action was taken.
“Once the initial positive case was confirmed, contract tracing began immediately, and mass testing was carried out for patients and staff on the affected units,” Wheeler-Thorne told reporters on Tuesday.
The measures in affected units are being described as a lockdown, with enhanced IPC [infection prevention and control] guidelines and limited foot traffic to these units.
Horizon Health officials say they learned of the most recent case on Tuesday after they completed a round of testing.
Dr. Gordon Dow, infectious disease specialist with the Horizon Health Network, spoke about the outbreak with reporters, including the potential cause.
“I can say that the preliminary evidence we have is that it is likely related in this case to visitation,” said Dow, adding he cannot say emphatically that is how the outbreak began.
As for whether the cases in the two units are connected, Dow says they are “definitely” linked.
“An asymptomatic patient in one floor was transferred to another floor and then…well on that other floor got tested.”
Before the outbreak can be deemed over, two viral cycles — 28 days — must pass without the discovery of a new case.
