So far, 17 cases of infections have been reported in Montreal’s St. Mary’s Hospital Centre. The first outbreak reported on Tuesday involved 14 staff members. According to the hospital spokesperson Annie Charbonneau, the employees had little or no symptoms of infections.
The infection outbreak was reported in the hospital’s emergency wing. The hospital has enhanced screening to control infection by installing an emergency vaccination clinic. The emergency wing staff were ordered to get their first dose if they hadn’t been inoculated.
Those who tested positive include nurses, doctors, and clericals. They have, however, been removed from the workplace but have already been replaced. Charbonneau added that they are dedicated to restoring the situation as soon as possible.
“We quickly screened staff and patients who came into contact with the area affected by the outbreak. Our efforts are directed to controlling the outbreak and restoring the situation as soon as possible.”
St. Mary’s Montreal Hospital also confirmed that close to 100 staff and patients in the emergency room had been tested as an infection control measure. No patient has tested positive, and the origin of the infection is still unclear.
The hospital has affirmed that the emergency room will remain open, but with an order that no one accompanies a loved one to limit the risk of exposure.
