GRH declares COVID-19 outbreak on GR4 South Neurobehavioural Unit at the Freeport Campus

In consultation with Region of Waterloo Public Health, Grand River Hospital has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 on GR4 South, the Neurobehavioural Unit.

Currently, five patients on GR4 South have tested positive.

A hospital outbreak is declared when two or more patients and/or staff test positive for a respiratory illness that was acquired in hospital within a timeframe that is consistent with the epidemiology of the disease, and when there is a link between the cases. We have implemented additional precautions to ensure increased safety of all:

• Enhanced surveillance
• Additional high-touch cleaning
• Face shields/eye protection for staff when patients won’t wear a mask
• Temporarily suspending in person care partner visits to the unit and working to enhance virtual and phone connections for our patients and families.
• Investigating opportunities to cohort COVID positive patients together and COVID resolved staff with patients who tested negative for COVID; to support continued operations and follow IPAC principles.

The hospital has reached out to patients and staff who may have been at risk of exposure. We wish these patients and staff a safe and speedy recovery.