Staff say the COVID-19 outbreak at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital is now under control.
The Lake of the Woods District Hospital activated its pandemic plan on April 15, after two hospital patients tested positive for COVID-19. Visitor restrictions were immediately introduced and remain in place at this time, with limited exceptions for end-of-life patients.
By April 18, the hospital announced that the outbreak had grown to include nine patients, six of which acquired COVID-19 through the outbreak in the 3 East department. The hospital noted they were also facing ‘critical’ staffing shortages at the time.
Now, the hospital says the outbreak has been restricted to the 2E medical in-patient unit, and there have been no new hospital-acquired cases of the virus associated with the outbreak since April 22.
“Diligent work from the LWDH staff and professional staff including patient isolation, asymptomatic testing and restricting movement between departments has contained the outbreak at this point in time,” said hospital leadership, in a prepared statement.
As it stands, the hospital says there are five patients in hospital due to the outbreak and another four residents have been admitted due to community transmission, however, these numbers can change daily.
“Hospital leadership would like to acknowledge the LWDH team for the amazing job they have done to contain this outbreak. It has not been easy and this is an incredibly challenging time not only due to the pandemic, but due to unprecedented staffing shortages. Thank you, as well to the Northwestern Health Unit for their support as we navigate the next steps,” leadership adds.
The hospital notes its Infection Control Team has been working collaboratively with members of the Northwestern Health Unit to investigate the origin of the outbreak and to ensure effective control strategies.