WINDSOR, ONT. -- The Windsor Essex County Health Unit has reported clusters at both the Windsor Regional Hospital’s Ouellette Campus and Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare.
Windsor-Essex medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed issued a statement Friday saying the health unit is investigating.
“The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is working closely with hospital administrators to determine the source of transmission and the potential risk to staff and patients,” Ahmed said.
Due to privacy considerations, the WECHU is unable to publicly disclose further details about the case or the number of close contacts at the hospitals.
Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare reported there are less than 20 confirmed or under investigation cases of COVID-19 in the HDGH cluster. All patients on the affected unit are being tested and all staff who worked on the affected unit during the timeframe under investigation will be offered testing.
“Since the onset of this pandemic, HDGH has taken decisive and immediate action with the ever evolving dynamics of COVID-19 in our community. The safety of our staff, physicians, visitors and our community at large, has and will remain our top priority,” Janice Kaffer, HDGH president and CEO, said in a news release.
While the investigation is underway, HDGH has applied the following additional and immediate restrictions:
- closing the affected unit to any new admissions,
- enhanced cleaning on the affected unit,
- temporarily suspending Designated Care Partners Visitation program on the affected unit
- Reinforcing the importance of the use of personal protective equipment and consistent washing of hands and respecting of physical distancing across the campus.
