ST. PAUL - An outbreak has been declared at the St. Therese - St. Paul Health Care Centre in St. Paul.
On Dec. 29, Alberta Health Services confirmed that 10 individuals associated with the facility tested positive for COVID-19, and that an outbreak was declared on Boxing Day.
"Contact tracing for anyone potentially exposed to these individuals is ongoing," said Diana Rinne, Senior Communications Advisor with AHS North Zone.
Rinne says the situation is under review by the Medical Officer of Health, Infection Prevention and Control specialists, site leadership and AHS Workplace Health and Safety.
She affirmed that the St. Paul hospital remains a "safe place to receive care" and there is no increased risk to patients who visit the hospital.
Any patient with symptoms, or who has tested positive for COVID-19, is isolated and treated in designated rooms, she explained.
"All AHS facilities, including the St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre, follow rigorous Infection Prevention and Control standards. All healthcare workers are asked to self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure risk using a screening tool before reporting to a site for their shift, and our frontline teams are practicing continuous masking while at work."
All patients at the hospital will continue to receive the treatment, care and support they need.
To ensure the safety of patients, only designated family and support persons will be allowed to "visit in end-of-life or other extenuating circumstances," said Rinne.
When visitors enter the hospital, they will be instructed to follow appropriate measures. Restrictions are in place to minimize risk of transmission from outside the health care facility.
For visitation information and restrictions at AHS healthcare facilities, please visit the AHS website.
