Sault Area Hospital monitoring COVID-19 outbreak in a medical unit

Sault Area Hospital is monitoring a COVID-19 outbreak in a medical unit of the facility.

SAH issued a release shortly after 6 p.m. announcing the outbreak.

"Sault Area Hospital (SAH) is currently monitoring an outbreak of COVID-19 on a medical unit of the facility," the release stated. "SAH has identified three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in hospital – connected to the outbreak."

Following is the full release from SAH:

Sault Area Hospital (SAH) is currently monitoring an outbreak of COVID-19 on a medical unit of the facility. SAH has identified three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in hospital – connected to the outbreak.

The Ministry of Health defines a COVID-19 outbreak in a public hospital as two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases involving patients or staff within a specified area within a 14-day period where both cases could have reasonably acquired their infection in the hospital. 

SAH’s Outbreak Management Team has been engaged and has taken action to ensure the safety of all SAH employees, physicians, learners, patients, visitors and designated care partners.

SAH’s Occupational Health and Safety Services and Infection Prevention and Control Teams are working closely with Algoma Public Health. Contact tracing is taking place. Impacted patients have been tested, and those who tested positive have been isolated on SAH’s COVID-19 Unit, where they are being monitored for symptoms. 

Effective immediately, only vaccinated visitors for compassionate reasons are permitted on the unit in outbreak.  This restriction will be reviewed daily.

Additional infection, prevention and control measures are in place on the unit, such as strict hand hygiene, heightened infection surveillance, additional use of personal protective equipment, laboratory testing and enhanced cleaning and disinfection.

SAH remains open with clinics and procedures continuing as normal and continues to be a safe place for patients, designated care partners, staff, learners and volunteers