A second Vancouver Island hospital has reported a COVID-19 outbreak this week.
According to Island Health, one staff member and one patient tested positive for COVID-19 at West Coast General Hospital (WCGH) in Port Alberni.
Authorities say transmission of the virus occurred within the medical-surgical B-wing of the hospital. That unit is now closed to admissions and visitors.
No other areas of the hospital have been affected, and the hospital, including the emergency department remain open at this time.
All patients in the affected unit have been informed of the outbreak and are being tested. Island Health says they are in the process of informing the families of patients who were not able to tell them about the outbreak.
The health authority says there is no need to cancel any scheduled appointments at the hospital, and anyone needing emergency care should not hesitate to visit WCGH.
Enhanced cleaning and contact tracing is underway.
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