COVID-19 outbreak at St. Paul’s Hospital heart centre unit
Posted January 5, 2021 11:27 am.
Last Updated January 5, 2021 5:36 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at a unit in the heart centre at St. Paul’s Hospital after patients tested positive for the virus.
According to a release from Vancouver Coastal Health, the unit is closed to new admissions, but the hospital is open to anyone needing medical attention.
“At this time, there is no impact to other areas of St. Paul’s Hospital. Please do not delay in seeking care as this could exacerbate your condition,” the release reads.
The health authority didn’t provide the number of infected patients, who are now in self-isolation.
There's a new #COVID19 outbreak at St. Paul’s Hospital in #Vancouver.@VCHhealthcare reports it's contained to unit 5A in the Heart Centre where an undisclosed number of patients tested positive.
That unit is closed to new admissions, but hospital remains open. @NEWS1130— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) January 5, 2021
Visitation has been suspended temporarily until outbreak measures are over, but there is an exception for compassionate visits for patients at the end of life.
Contact tracing has started, while other safety measures are underway.
This is the third time patients have tested positive for the virus at St. Paul’s.
.@Providence_Hlth has confirmed this latest outbreak at St. Paul’s is the 3rd time patients have tested positive:
1. NICU, July/20
2. Urban Health Unit, Sept./20
3. Heart Unit, Jan./21 #bcpoli @NEWS1130— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) January 5, 2021
In July, an outbreak shut down the NICU unit, then, in September the second one was in the urban health unit.
On Christmas Day, an outbreak was declared at the respiratory unit at Vancouver General Hospital after patients contracted the virus.
As of Monday, the coronavirus is active at nine acute care facilities in B.C.
