Niagara Health has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 on the Brock inpatient surgical unit at the Greater Niagara General Site in Niagara Falls.
The outbreak was called after one patient and one staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Both cases are healthcare-associated.
Niagara Health’s Infection Prevention and Control team, working with Niagara Region Public Health and our Occupational Health and Safety team, is monitoring the situation closely.
"Our teams are working diligently to control the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of everyone,” says Derek McNally, Niagara Health’s Executive Vice President, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive. “The team has worked hard to care for patients and they have developed a plan to continue to safely provide elective surgeries at this time.”
Niagara Health has taken immediate action to protect staff, physicians and patients by putting into place a number of safety measures, including:
- Closure of the unit to new admissions or transfers, unless medically necessary.
- Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the unit.
- Contact tracing of affected patients and staff with appropriate follow up.
- Visitors are not permitted on the unit.
This outbreak reinforces the highly infectious nature of COVID-19 and the need for vigilance with public health measures, including physical distancing, proper and consistent mask usage, and regular hand washing.
