UPDATE – Outbreak over: COVID-19 outbreak declared at clinical service within KHSC
Update (Monday, Dec. 6, 2021):
The Outbreak Management Team at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), in consultation with KFL&A Public Health, has declared an end to the COVID-19 outbreak within one clinical service that crosses both hospital sites. The service continues to operate as normal, according to a release from KHSC.
The outbreak, which was initially declared on November 19, involved three KHSC staff members testing positive for COVID-19. Due to the small size of the team, the specific area of clinical specialty cannot be published for privacy reasons, the organization said.
“Keeping our staff and patients safe is the top priority at KHSC. While our workforce is vaccinated, infections can, on occasion, occur in individuals who are fully vaccinated,” KHSC said. “We know that high vaccination rates amongst health-care staff limits the spread of hospital-based outbreaks, while contributing to the reduction of more serious illness.”
KHSC said they continue to adhere to additional public health measures such as universal masking, hand washing and physical distancing which remains vital to the fight against COVID-19.
According to the release, outbreak protocols remain in place on the Kidd 3 unit at the Kingston General Hospital site. KHSC will continue to provide further updates as they become available.
Update (Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 at 3:48 p.m.): According to Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), the outbreak at one of its clinical services is “within a team that crosses multiple sites.”
“It is not a location specific outbreak,” KHSC said in an email.
“We cannot share more specifics about the team, because they are quite small, without violating their personal health privacy. However, by this point all KHSC staff are fully vaccinated aside from the small number who have valid exemptions.”
Original article:
After three staff members tested positive for COVID-19, Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) has declared an outbreak within one of its clinical services.
“Working closely with our partners at KFL&A Public Health, contact tracing has been undertaken and patients are being notified, Infection Prevention and Control measures continue to be in place and the outbreak has been contained at this time. Twenty-four patients, most as a result of outpatient clinic appointments, were deemed to be close contacts of the staff members prior to those staff members testing positive,” KHSC said in a press release on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 19, 2021.
“Any impacted patients are being notified by KFLA Public Health to monitor for symptoms. If you are a patient of KHSC and have not been contacted by KFL&A Public Health, you are not at risk as a result of this outbreak,” the press release continued.
“The staff members are now at home and we wish them a speedy recovery.”
According to KHSC, all of its clinical services are continuing to operate normally, including the “individual service” impacted by the outbreak.
“Keeping our staff and patients safe is the top priority at KHSC. While our workforce is vaccinated, infections can, on occasion, occur in individuals who are fully vaccinated. We know that high vaccination rates amongst health-care staff limits further spread of hospital-based outbreaks, while contributing to the reduction of more serious outcomes,” KHSC said.
“Our continued adherence to additional public health measures such as universal masking, hand washing and physical distancing remain vital to our fight against COVID-19. We continue to be grateful to our staff and members of the public for doing their part to keep the hospital, and everyone in it, safe from COVID-19 as the prevalence continues to grow in our community.”
KHSC recommends any members of the public who have symptoms of COVID-19 or concerns that they may have contracted the virus seek testing at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at the Beechgrove Complex. Appointments can be booked online at https://ygkcovidtesting.coconutcalendar.com/.