KGH COVID-19 outbreak cases continue to rise
A COVID-19 outbreak declared on the Davies 5 unit of Kingston General Hospital (KGH) has risen to at least 12 cases as of Wednesday, Jul. 7, 2021.
Three new cases were detected on that date related to the outbreak, according to Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health. One new case in the KFL&A region announced on the same date is not related to the outbreak.
KFL&A Public Health disclosed that three more healthcare workers have tested positive for the virus, however, they could not confirm that the three cases related to the KGH outbreak were those of healthcare workers.
Public Health explained that they are not able to say how many of those individuals involved in the outbreak – which, as of Tuesday, Jul 6, 2021, included six patients and three staff members at KGH – have been vaccinated, as they do not disclose that information. Whether or not the Delta variant of COVID-19 is involved remains under investigation through genome sequencing, and the cause of the outbreak remains under investigation, as well.
When asked for confirmation on how many cases are now involved in the outbreak, and how many of those cases are those of staff or patients at KGH, Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) deferred to an interview, which will take place on Thursday, Jul. 8, 2021.
KFL&A Public Health said Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hugh Guan, could speak more to the vaccination strategy of the staff at KGH, and what the outlook on the current state of the outbreak is. Dr. Guan will host the local media for his weekly COVID-19 update on Thursday, Jul. 8, 2021.
During this outbreak, patient care services continue as usual in all areas of KHSC hospital sites other than the Davies 5 Unit. The Davies 5 unit is normally classified as a Medicine Short Stay Unit, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been used for patients that would normally be in Connell 3, a Transitional Support Unit. Connell 3, in turn, has been used as a temporary COVID-19 ward.