Three active COVID-19 outbreaks at Kingston General Hospital

Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) is now dealing with three concurrent COVID-19 outbreaks at its Kingston General Hospital (KGH) site, having declared a COVID-19 outbreak at its Kidd 7 unit on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.

COVID-19 outbreaks continue on the Connell 9 and Connell 10 units at the KGH site.

As defined by the province of Ontario, a hospital outbreak is declared when there is “evidence of transmission of the disease within the hospital on a single unit.” The hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Occupational Health teams, together with KFL&A Public Health, jointly make that determination.

KGH declared its most recent outbreak “after an increased number of patients associated with the unit tested positive for COVID-19.”

As a result, visitor restrictions are in place with only essential visitors permitted on the unit.

“KFL&A Public Health has been notified, and KHSC is notifying patients, visitors and staff affected by the outbreak. KHSC is also completing the necessary contact tracing and testing for individuals on the unit,” the hospital said in a press release.

According to KHSC, the hospital is currently treating 27 COVID-positive patients, with two of those in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 27 in Acute Care.

“KHSC’s top priority is the safety of our patients, health-care workers and community,” the hospital continued. “As we continue to see community spread of COVID-19, KHSC thanks everyone for helping to prevent the spread of the virus within the hospital, including adherence to our screening processes, masking requirements and visitor restrictions.”