Niagara Health is taking proactive measures to ensure safety at the hospital following a potential exposure of COVID on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
One healthcare worker who had worked on the NICU has tested positive for the virus and Niagara Health is taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of patients on the unit.
“Working in collaboration with our experts in Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention and Control, we are taking all appropriate steps to maintain a safe environment. As a precaution, we are testing staff on the unit, as well as every patient in the NICU,” says Dr. Johan Viljoen, Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs. Niagara Health has communicated with all families on the unit and is awaiting test results from 18 babies.
“At this time, there is no indication of transmission on the unit. The St. Catharines Site remains safe for women to give birth and receive care,” adds Dr. Viljoen.
Niagara Health continues to maintain thorough infection prevention and control procedures to protect patients, visitors, staff and physicians. These measures include screening everyone entering the hospital for COVID-19, mandatory masking for all patients and visitors entering the hospital, and requirements for physical distancing and regular hand cleaning.
UPDATE January 1, 2020:
Testing is continuing and we have received a number of results, which have all been negative. We will provide a full update once all of the testing is completed.
