An outbreak of COVID-19 at the Emergency Department at Niagara Health’s St. Catharines Site has been called after five staff members tested positive for the virus. All of the cases were healthcare associated.
The Emergency Department remains open and safe for members of the public seeking care.
Our Infection Prevention and Control experts, working with our Occupational Health and Safety team, is monitoring the situation closely, and has put in place enhanced infection control measures:
Use of universal mask and eye protection by all staff and physicians.
Continued wearing of masks by Emergency Department patients and visitors.
Enhanced cleaning and disinfection is ongoing for all rooms and medical equipment.
GNG Brock Unit outbreak over
The COVID-19 outbreak on the Brock Unit at the Greater Niagara General Site has ended.
The outbreak was declared over after 14 days of enhanced monitoring of patients and staff showed there had been no evidence of further transmission and no new additional COVID-19 cases on the unit.
Monitoring of symptoms for both staff and patients will continue, as well as enhanced cleaning. Visitor restrictions will remain in place due to the ongoing facility-wide outbreak at GNG.
We thank our team members who contributed to bringing this outbreak to a successful end.
COVID-19 outbreaks reinforce the highly infectious nature of COVID-19 and the need for vigilance with public health measures, including physical distancing, proper and consistent mask usage, and regular hand washing.