Health Care Worker Tests Positive for COVID-19
The Brant County Health Unit has a laboratory confirmed case of novel coronavirus (COVID19) for a resident of Brant County. The woman, who was assessed at Brant Community Health Care System, is a health care worker at Woodstock Hospital.
The woman is in her 40s and had recently travelled to Mexico. Between March 9 to 11 she reported to work, and during her shift on March 11, she became symptomatic and immediately left work to self-isolate at home. This individual’s duties involve limited patient contact.
As per recommendations from Southwestern Public Health Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock, hospital staff that have travelled outside of Canada and are not symptomatic may return to work and self-monitor for a period of 14 days. Self-monitoring includes checking for fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
Woodstock Hospital has implemented Ministry of Health and Infection Prevention and Control best practices for managing the confirmed COVID-19 staff case. This includes quarantining staff contacts for the 14 period of incubation, implementing patient exposure protocols and all components of infection control best practices with the goal of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our staff and patients. These measures are necessary to prevent additional exposures.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation. Woodstock Hospital is working collaboratively with our health care partners to monitor, assess and implement measures to flatten the curve and slow down the spread of infections,” said Woodstock Hospital President & CEO Perry Lang.
“The hospital has enhanced cleaning throughout the organization, implemented restricted visitor guidelines, is screening individuals at hospital entrances, and ramping down non-emergent surgeries, clinics and outpatient visits,” said VP of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer Jayne Menard.
About Woodstock Hospital
Built in November 2011, Woodstock Hospital is a 178 bed, full-service community hospital, providing primary care to a population of 55,000 and specialized care to nearly 110,000 within the County of Oxford. The new facility offers a wide range of health programs including Maternal Child, Women’s Health, Specialized Surgical Services, Inpatient and Outpatient Mental Health Services, Dialysis and Rehabilitation Programs, a Systemic Therapy Program and an MRI. Our full service facility works closely with our community partners to provide our patients with healthcare services, close to home.
About Southwestern Public Health
Southwestern Public Health works with its partners to ensure the health of the whole community. Formed in 2018 by the merger of Elgin St. Thomas Public Health and Oxford County Public Health, Southwestern Public Health serves a population of approximately 205,000 across Oxford County, Elgin County and the City of St. Thomas. Our programs respond to public health emergencies; promote healthy lifestyles; help prevent injuries, illness and disease in the community; and promote positive change and social conditions that improve health. Southwestern Public Health delivers mandated programs under the Ontario Public Health Standards and is regulated by the Ontario Health Promotion and Protection Act. The health unit maintains primary locations in Woodstock and St. Thomas. For more information, visit www.swpublichealth.ca.