Third patient dies in Foothills Hospital outbreaks, 114 staff members isolated
Posted Sep 23, 2020 3:29 pm.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Another patient has died in the outbreaks at the Foothills Medical Centre, bringing the total number of deaths linked to the hospital to three.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) said in a statement three additional staff members have tested positive for a total of nine cases.
The number of staff members in isolation has now risen to 114.
One more patient tested positive for the virus bringing the number of cases in patients to 17.
The outbreaks were declared on Monday in the cardiac care unit and the general medicine unit at the hospital.
Health officials confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the cardiac unit Friday and found another case of the virus in the general unit the following Saturday. These outbreaks have not been linked and an investigation continues into how the virus was able to enter the building.
“[Foothills] remains a safe place to visit and to receive care and there is no increased risk to patients coming to the hospital,” AHS said in a release.
“There are no vacancies as a result of isolating staff. The site is using overtime and reassignment of staff to cover shifts as needed.”
The hospital has enhanced its cleaning protocols on the affected units and multiple staff swabbing sites have been set up at the facility.
Staff on the affected units are screened twice daily, AHS said.
Visitors are restricted to end of life situations or preapproved essential visitors and students and volunteers are not allowed on the units during the outbreak.
