Island Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Saanich Peninsula Hospital after evidence of transmission in acute care areas.
According to the health authority, one staff member and five patients have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
Outpatient services including lab and medical imaging will continue and the emergency department remains open. Visitors will be limited at this time.
Upon declaring the outbreak, Island Health said they implemented precautions immediately, including enhanced cleaning and contact tracing to protect the health of all staff, medical staff and patients.
Island Health has put in place comprehensive strategies to prevent and respond to COVID-19 in all acute and long-term care facilities. Dedicated COVID-19 units are established at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital to safely care for patients with COVID-19.
All staff and admitted patients are being tested. In addition, Island Health is in the process of contacting families of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Earlier today, the B.C. Ministry of Health reported 656 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 33,894.
There were 10 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region.
To date, there have been a total of 639 cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died. Six people in the region are currently in hospital and two are in ICU after contracting the virus.
Island Health reports that as of Tuesday, December 1, there are 246 active cases in the region.
- South Vancouver Island Active cases: 60 (+2) Total Cases: 202 (+2)
- Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 147 (+6) Total Cases: 292 (+6)
- North Vancouver Island Active cases: 39 (+2) Total Cases: 145 (+2)
