Three people hospitalized after COVID-19 outbreak at Calgary condo

EDMONTON (660NEWS) — A condo building located in the East Village of Calgary has been added to Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) outbreak list after 32 people associated with the building tested positive for COVID-19.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says there are currently three individuals in hospital due to this outbreak.

“Public health at that local level is working very closely with building management,” Hinshaw said.

“They are making sure that there is enhanced cleaning and have offered testing to everyone in that building whether or not they have symptoms.”

Twenty-seven of those cases are currently active and five have recovered.

Hinshaw also mentions an outbreak at a Calgary high-rise apartment.

32 cases identified there, with 3 people in hospital who were otherwise healthy individuals.

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) June 25, 2020

Hinshaw said there is a chance more cases associated with the building could be found in the future.

“It’s possible, but I do believe that every measure that needs to be taken to prevent spread is being undertaken,” she said.

It does appear that high touch surfaces were a mechanism for the virus to spread, however, Hinshaw said that’s still being investigated.

AHS is also monitoring an outbreak at the Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton, which claimed a patient’s life Thursday, bringing Alberta’s death toll to 154

Hinshaw says two units have been affected by this outbreak.

“There’s one unit where the majority of cases are and there was a patent who was in that initial transferred to another unit who is now positive,” she said.

“The main impact has been on those particular units with respect to pausing any admissions or transfers.”

“I don’t want people to fear going to seek health care because of this incident. It is an isolated incident and is being investigated,” Hinshaw added.

There are currently six patients and five staff members who have confirmed cases.