Island Health has identified two additional cases of COVID-19 as part of an active outbreak at Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
The outbreak was declared at the hospital on December 1 after one staff member and five patients tested positive for the virus.
Two days later, on December 3, another patient and three staff members were also found to have COVID-19.
Today, one more patient and one more staff member tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of cases to seven patients and five staff members.
In a statement released late Friday, Island Health announced they are temporarily moving the SPH laboratory service outpatient collections to their Keating Cross Road lab, located at 2140A Keating Cross Road.
According to the health authority, the outbreak is limited to acute care areas, and the emergency department remains open.
Outpatient services, including lab and medical imaging, remain open but the hospital is closed to acute admissions.
Island Health said patients in the acute care areas are being closely monitored for symptoms and will be re-tested next week.
“Further, staff movement between acute and long-term care is restricted for all staff who have or are currently working in acute care areas at SPH,” reads the statement.
“Our Public Health team has followed up with anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 at the hospital in recent weeks.”
An Island Health representative has confirmed to Victoria Buzz that three of the six patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have been discharged from Saanich Peninsula Hospital and are isolating at home, while the other three have been transferred to Royal Jubilee Hospital.
It remains unclear whether any of the staff members who tested positive from the Saanich Peninsula Hospital outbreak will be or have been transferred to other hospitals for care.
