Cambridge Memorial Hospital back to square one when it comes to outbreaks - TheRecord.com

Back to square one.

That's where Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) is when it comes to COVID-19 outbreaks — now back to four — as two connected cases were reported in the in-patient surgery unit (wing B, level 3) on Feb. 8.

A hospital outbreak is declared when two or more patients and/or staff test positive for a respiratory illness that was acquired in hospital within a time frame that is consistent with the epidemiology of the disease, and when there is a link between the cases.

The outbreak may be declared over on Feb. 18 if no new positive cases arise.

The outbreak in the unit came about less than a week after CMH declared an initial in-patient surgery outbreak over on Feb. 3.

It's the second recurring outbreak in a unit at the hospital, as an outbreak was declared in the rehab unit less than a handful of days after the first one ended on Feb. 2.

In this outbreak, five patients have been infected. The earliest possible end date is Feb. 16 if no new infections are found.

The other two outbreaks at the hospital are in the Medicine B, declared Jan. 19, and in-patient mental health, declared Jan. 30.

In medicine B, 18 patients have been infected and the earliest possible end date is Feb. 15 if no new infections are found.

In the mental health unit, four patients have been infected. Results from swabs are pending and the outbreak may be declared over Feb. 8 if no new cases are discovered.

Staff working in the units in outbreak are required to do PCR testing every three days and to have a negative rapid antigen test daily before work, and staff that have been COVID positive at any time in the last three months are not required to do testing unless new respiratory symptoms develop.

Precautions taken in outbreak units include enhanced surveillance through increased swabbing and testing non-infected patients and staff and enhanced cleaning, especially of high-touch areas. Visits to in-patients have been paused for the entire hospital as of Jan. 8.

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Cambridge Memorial Hospital back to square one when it comes to outbreaks - TheRecord.com
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