Stratford General Hospital, under the jurisdiction of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA), has been hit by a combined outbreak of COVID-19 and Influenza A.
The outbreak on the Medicine Unit means that it is temporarily closed to admissions.
Patients, their families/caregivers, and the hospital team are undergoing notification processes, and widespread testing is being implemented to contain the outbreak.
Modifications have been made to family and caregiver presence on the affected unit. Strict protocols now allow only one family caregiver/visitor per day for each patient, with no in-and-out privileges.
Additionally, mandatory personal protective equipment, including masks, eye protection, gowns, and gloves, is required for those entering the unit.
Erica Jensen, Manager Quality, Patient Safety, and Infection Control at HPHA, emphasizes the critical role that visitor health plays in preventing further spread. She states, “Patients in the hospital are vulnerable and at higher risk of severe illness. If you, or anyone in your household, are feeling unwell, it’s important that you not visit people in the hospital until you are fully recovered.”
This marks the seventh outbreak declared by HPHA since September 2023.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
