LAC LA BICHE - Identified as a facility with more than two active COVID-19 cases, Lac La Biche's WJ. Cadzow hospital joins 22 other healthcare centres across the province now in "outbreak" status.
Although not officially announced until Friday's provincial pandemic update, AHS officials are saying the outbreak was declared in the hospital's acute care on Monday, December 7.The official announcement has confirmed rumours and speculation about suspected cases in the hospital that have been swirling for several days.
While health officials say they can't always accurately update the amount of active cases at a hospital, "because they change rapidly and often", on Friday night they were reporting three individuals associated with the facility had tested positive.
No visitors
The Lac La Biche hospital, which has a service area reaching more than 15,000 people, is now under more stringent COVID-19 precaution, including restrictions on patient visitation — except for those in palliative, end-of-life situations.
"We encourage families to continue to meet virtually with their loved ones," notes an AHS memo on an online information page.
Hospital staff at W. J. Cadzow have also conducted regular coronavirus tests on at-risk patients in every unit of the facility and contact tracing for patients and staff is ongoing. Cleaning and hygiene protocols as the hospital have also been upgraded.
Visits and appointments
For anyone needing information about visitation or care at the hospital, AHS has an online contact. For information go to www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17001.aspx for assistance.
The outbreak classification at Cadzow, like the other health facilities across the province, identifies that the cases have occurred, and been transmitted, within the facility.
The outbreak will be declared over once four weeks have passed with no new cases.
Other hospitals in the province's North Zone under "outbreak" status include Smoky Lake's George McDougall Health Care Centre with two confirmed cases, and Grande Prairie's Queen Elizabeth 11 Hospital where there have been three active cases associated to a November 15 outbreak on the acute care unit reported and more recently, two additional cases from a December 3 outbreak. The first outbreak has been associated with the death of one person.
