COVID-19 Outbreak Updates
November 13, 2020
November 12, 2020
November 10, 2020
November 9, 2020
November 6, 2020
November 5, 2020
November 4, 2020
November 3, 2020
November 2, 2020
October 30, 2020
October 29, 2020
October 27, 2020
Suspension of non-urgent and elective surgeries and diagnostics (November 2, 2020)
Critical Care Overcapacity (October 29, 2020)
Some Surgeries Postponed (October 28, 2020)
Patient Visits Temporarily Suspended (October 24, 2020)
Notification of COVID-19 Outbreak in Patient Care Units (E5, E6 & B5) – October 24, 2020
Notification of COVID-19 Outbreak in Patient Care Units (E5 & E6) – October 21, 2020
Notification of COVID-19 Outbreak on E6 (October 16, 2020)
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(November 13, 2020)
Today’s COVID-19 update includes:
- There are no new patients or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update; leaving the total at 29 patients and 20 staff who have tested positive related to the outbreaks.
- There are no new deaths to report since our last update, however, we are adjusting our number from seven (7) to ten (10) deaths due to reporting from our ICU for deaths that occurred between October 30 and November 4, attributable to the St. Boniface Hospital outbreaks.
“The entire St. Boniface Hospital family extends deep condolences to the families who have lost a loved one,” said Martine Bouchard, President & CEO. “We join our community in doing all that we can to contain the virus so that together we can see this through to the other side.”
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors, enhanced facility-wide measures to support Infection Prevention & Control directives include:
- Monitoring of all common areas and breakrooms for adherence to occupancy limits, social distancing and PPE compliance.
- Increased environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
- Updated signage and overhead page to ensure social distancing compliance.
- Managerial presence to cover evening shift 7 days/week to support staff, increase auditing and respond to patient and family concerns.
- Reducing movement of staff between COVID zones.
- Specialty intervention teams in place to coach and support staff in adhering to Infection Prevention & Control measures such as PPE compliance, hand washing, social distancing, environmental cleaning, and implementing outbreak protocols.
- Restricting patient movement on units, as much as possible.
- Visitor restrictions with exceptions for end-of-life care, laboring women and NICU. Families are encouraged to meet their loved ones virtually.
- Increase in Occupational Health & Safety staff to support contact tracing efforts.
- Opening of Rapid Testing Site for St. Boniface Hospital Staff, Physicians and Residents.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(November 12, 2020)
Today’s COVID-19 update includes:
• There are no new patients or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update; leaving the total at 29 patients and 20 staff who have tested positive related to the outbreaks.
• There is one new death to report since our last update, for a total of seven (7) deaths attributable to the St. Boniface Hospital outbreaks.
“The entire St. Boniface Hospital family extends deep condolences to the families who have lost a loved one,” said Martine Bouchard, President & CEO. “We join our community in doing all that we can to contain the virus so that together we can see this through to the other side.”
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors, enhanced facility-wide measures to support Infection Prevention & Control directives include:
• Monitoring of all common areas and breakrooms for adherence to occupancy limits, social distancing and PPE compliance.
• Increased environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
• Updated signage and overhead page to ensure social distancing compliance.
• Managerial presence to cover evening shift 7 days/week to support staff, increase auditing and respond to patient and family concerns.
• Reducing movement of staff between COVID zones.
• Specialty intervention teams in place to coach and support staff in adhering to Infection Prevention & Control measures such as PPE compliance, hand washing, social distancing, environmental cleaning, and implementing outbreak protocols.
• Restricting patient movement on units, as much as possible.
• Visitor restrictions with exceptions for end-of-life care, laboring women and NICU. Families are encouraged to meet their loved ones virtually.
• Increase in Occupational Health & Safety staff to support contact tracing efforts.
• Opening of Rapid Testing Site for St. Boniface Hospital Staff, Physicians and Residents.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(November 10, 2020)
Today’s COVID-19 update includes:
• There are no new patients or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update; leaving the total at 29 patients and 20 staff who have tested positive related to the outbreaks.
• There are no new deaths to report since our last update, leaving the total at six (6) deaths attributable to the St. Boniface Hospital outbreaks.
• As of Sunday, November 8 the number of units classified as outbreak units has been reduced from three to two.
“I want to reiterate how very difficult it is for families who are unable to be at their loved ones bedside,” said Martine Bouchard, President & CEO. “Our care teams are paying particularly close attention to the needs of patients and are endeavoring to connect them with their families by phone and through virtual visits.”
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors, enhanced facility-wide measures to support Infection Prevention & Control directives include:
• Monitoring of all common areas and breakrooms for adherence to occupancy limits, social distancing and PPE compliance.
• Increased environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
• Updated signage and overhead page to ensure social distancing compliance.
• Managerial presence to cover evening shift 7 days/week to support staff, increase auditing and respond to patient and family concerns.
• Reducing movement of staff between COVID zones.
• Specialty intervention teams in place to coach and support staff in adhering to Infection Prevention & Control measures such as PPE compliance, hand washing, social distancing, environmental cleaning, and implementing outbreak protocols.
• Restricting patient movement on units, as much as possible.
• Visitor restrictions with exceptions for end-of-life care, laboring women and NICU. Families are encouraged to meet their loved ones virtually.
• Increase in Occupational Health & Safety staff to support contact tracing efforts.
• Opening of Rapid Testing Site for St. Boniface Hospital Staff, Physicians and Residents.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(November 9, 2020)
Today’s COVID-19 update includes:
• Three new patients have tested positive since our last update, for a total at 29 patients related to the outbreaks.
• Four staff have tested positive since our last update, for a total of 20 staff related to the outbreaks. Please note that these are not new exposures but late coming results due to a backlog in entering data.
• There are no new deaths to report since our last update, leaving the total at eight (8) deaths, of which six (6) are attributable to the St. Boniface outbreak.
• Units on outbreak have been reduced from three to two.
“We continue our efforts to contain the spread of transmission,” said Martine Bouchard, President & CEO. “I express tremendous gratitude to the teams who have worked tirelessly and collaboratively to safely reopen one of our units to new admissions.”
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors, enhanced facility-wide measures to support Infection Prevention & Control directives include:
• Monitoring of all common areas and breakrooms for adherence to occupancy limits, social distancing and PPE compliance.
• Increased environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
• Updated signage and overhead page to ensure social distancing compliance.
• Managerial presence to cover evening shift 7 days/week to support staff, increase auditing and respond to patient and family concerns.
• Reducing movement of staff between COVID zones.
• Specialty intervention teams in place to coach and support staff in adhering to Infection Prevention & Control measures such as PPE compliance, hand washing, social distancing, environmental cleaning, and implementing outbreak protocols.
• Restricting patient movement on units, as much as possible.
• Visitor restrictions with exceptions for end-of-life care, laboring women and NICU. Families are encouraged to meet their loved ones virtually.
• Increase in Occupational Health & Safety staff to support contact tracing efforts.
• Opening of Rapid Testing Site for St. Boniface Hospital Staff, Physicians and Residents.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(November 6, 2020)
Today’s COVID-19 update includes:
One new patient has tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update, for a total at 26 patients who have tested positive related to the outbreaks.
No new staff have tested positive since our last update, leaving the total at 16 staff who have tested positive related to the outbreaks.
There are no new deaths to report, attributed to the St. Boniface Hospital outbreak since our last update, leaving the total to eight (8) deaths, of which six (6) are attributable to the St. Boniface outbreak.
“Each and every day, our hearts go out to families who are unable to be at their loved one’s bedside,” said Martine Bouchard, President & CEO. “Our teams continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively to contain transmission of COVID-19, and I thank everyone for their perseverance through these times.”
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors, enhanced facility-wide measures to support Infection Prevention & Control directives include:
Monitoring of all common areas and breakrooms for adherence to occupancy limits, social distancing and PPE compliance.
Increased environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
Updated signage and overhead page to ensure social distancing compliance.
Managerial presence to cover evening shift 7 days/week to support staff, increase auditing and respond to patient and family concerns.
Reducing movement of staff between COVID zones.
Specialty intervention teams in place to coach and support staff in adhering to Infection Prevention & Control measures such as PPE compliance, hand washing, social distancing, environmental cleaning, and implementing outbreak protocols.
Restricting patient movement on units, as much as possible.
Visitor restrictions with exceptions for end-of-life care, laboring women and NICU. Families are encouraged to meet their loved ones virtually.
Increase in Occupational Health & Safety staff to support contact tracing efforts.
Opening of Rapid Testing Site for St. Boniface Hospital Staff, Physicians and Residents.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(November 5, 2020)
Today’s COVID-19 update includes:
• No new patients have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update, leaving our total at 25 patients.
• One new staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update, for a total of 16 staff who have tested positive related to the outbreaks.
• One new death is being reported since our last update, for a total of eight (8) deaths, of which six (6) are attributable to the St. Boniface outbreak.
“Our hearts go out to the families who have lost a loved one,” said Martine Bouchard, St. Boniface Hospital President & CEO. “Our teams continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively to contain transmission of the virus as everyone’s safety is paramount.”
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors, enhanced facility-wide measures to support Infection Prevention & Control directives include:
• Monitoring of all common areas and breakrooms for adherence to occupancy limits, social distancing and PPE compliance.
• Increased environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
• Updated signage and overhead page to ensure social distancing compliance.
• Managerial presence to cover evening shift 7 days/week to support staff, increase auditing and respond to patient and family concerns.
• Reducing movement of staff between COVID zones.
• Specialty intervention teams in place to coach and support staff in adhering to Infection Prevention & Control measures such as PPE compliance, hand washing, social distancing, environmental cleaning, and implementing outbreak protocols.
• Restricting patient movement on units, as much as possible.
• Visitor restrictions with exceptions for end-of-life care, laboring women and NICU. Families are encouraged to meet their loved ones virtually.
• Increase in Occupational Health & Safety staff to support contact tracing efforts.
• Opening of Rapid Testing Site for St. Boniface Hospital Staff, Physicians and Residents.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(November 4, 2020)
We continue our investigation of outbreaks on three units. Today’s update includes:
No new patients or staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update, leaving our total at 25 patients and 15 staff.
There are no new deaths to report, attributed to the St. Boniface Hospital outbreak since our last report, leaving the total to seven (7) deaths, of which five (5) are attributable to the St. Boniface outbreak.
“On behalf of the entire St. Boniface Hospital family, we offer our deepest condolences to these patients’ families and loved ones at this difficult time,” said Martine Bouchard, St. Boniface Hospital, President & CEO. “Our teams continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively to contain transmission of COVID-19, and I thank them all.”
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors, the following outbreak protocols measures continue to be in place at St. Boniface Hospital:
Visitor restrictions with exceptions for end-of-life care, labouring women and NICU. We encourage families to continue to meet virtually with their loved ones.
Testing of patients and staff continues. All potential contacts are being traced, following Occupational Health & Safety and Public Health isolation and testing protocols.
Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
Ensuring the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment, including donning and doffing of equipment.
Ensuring physical distancing on units and common areas.
Promoting proper hand hygiene practices.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(November 3, 2020)
We continue our investigation of outbreaks on three units. Today’s update includes:
No new patients have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update, leaving our total at 25 patients.
Three additional staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update, leaving our total at 15 staff.
One new death, attributed to the St. Boniface Hospital outbreak, is being reported, bringing the total to seven (7) deaths, of which five (5) are attributable to the St. Boniface outbreak.
“On behalf of the entire St. Boniface Hospital family, we offer our deepest condolences to these patients’ families and loved ones at this difficult time,” said Martine Bouchard, St. Boniface Hospital, President & CEO. “Our teams continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively to contain transmission of COVID-19, and I thank them all.”
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors, the following outbreak protocols measures continue to be in place at St. Boniface Hospital:
Visitor restrictions with exceptions for end-of-life care, labouring women and NICU. We encourage families to continue to meet virtually with their loved ones.
Testing of patients and staff continues. All potential contacts are being traced, following Occupational Health & Safety and Public Health isolation and testing protocols.
Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
Ensuring the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment, including donning and doffing of equipment.
Ensuring physical distancing on units and common areas.
Promoting proper hand hygiene practices.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(November 2, 2020)
We continue our investigation of outbreaks on three units. Today’s update includes:
No new patients have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update.
Three additional staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update.
One new death, attributed to the St. Boniface Hospital outbreak, is being reported, bringing the total to six (6) deaths, four (4) attributable to the St. Boniface outbreak.
“On behalf of the entire St. Boniface Hospital family, we offer our deepest condolences to these patients’ families and loved ones at this difficult time,” said Martine Bouchard, St. Boniface Hospital, President & CEO. “The safety of our patients, staff, physicians and visitors is paramount. Our teams continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively to contain transmission of the virus and provide a safe environment for all.”
Outbreak protocols were implemented at the hospital to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors. To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the following measures continue to be in place:
Visitor restrictions are currently in place at St. Boniface Hospital. We encourage families to continue to meet virtually with their loved ones.
Testing of patients and staff continues. All potential contacts are being traced to ensure we reduce the possibility of spread and we are following Occupational Health & Safety and Public Health isolation and testing protocols.
Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
Ensuring the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment, including donning and doffing of equipment.
Ensuring physical distancing on units and common areas.
Promoting proper hand hygiene practices.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
Suspension of non-urgent and elective surgeries and diagnostics
(Updated: November 2, 2020)
Effective Monday, November 2, provincewide changes will take effect to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Across hospitals in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region including at St. Boniface Hospital, non-urgent and elective surgeries and diagnostics will be suspended until further notice.
Scheduled surgeries in a number of essential and time-sensitive areas will continue to be performed including cancer, cardiac and trauma. Patients will be contacted directly if their scheduled surgeries are affected.
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(October 30, 2020)
We continue our investigation of outbreaks on three units. Today’s update includes:
• No new patients have tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update.
• One additional staff has tested positive for COVID-19 since our last update.
• One new death, attributed to a patient transferred from the Parkview Place outbreak, is being reported, bringing the total to five (5) deaths.
“On behalf of the entire St. Boniface Hospital family, we offer our deepest condolences to these patients’ families and loved ones at this difficult time,” said Martine Bouchard, St. Boniface Hospital, President & CEO. “The safety of our patients, staff, physicians and visitors is paramount. Our teams continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively to contain transmission of the virus and provide a safe environment for all.”
Outbreak protocols have been implemented at the hospital to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors. To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the following measures have been implemented:
• Visitor restrictions are currently in place at St. Boniface Hospital. We encourage families to continue to meet virtually with their loved ones.
• Testing of patients and staff continues. All potential contacts are being traced to ensure we reduce the possibility of spread and we are following Occupational Health & Safety and Public Health isolation and testing protocols.
• Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
• Ensuring the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment, including donning and doffing of equipment.
• Ensuring physical distancing on units and common areas.
• Promoting proper hand hygiene practices.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
We would like to reassure the community we are doing everything we can to contain the transmission of COVID-19 at our facility.
Our efforts continue to keep patients, staff and our community safe.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds
Critical Care Overcapacity
(Update: October 29, 2020 at 7: 40 p.m.)
Our Intensive Care Medicine Surgery (ICMS) unit – where we care for our most critical patients – is now over capacity with all fourteen beds occupied. As this unit is full, we have had to admit a patient to the Intensive Care Cardiac Surgery (ICCS) unit.
ICCS is unable to take any further patients as staff have been furloughed (told to take a leave of absence) due to exposure from a patient.
At this point in time, more than half of the patients needing critical care are COVID-positive. We know that patients being treated for COVID-19 remain in intensive care for longer periods of time than other critical care patients. This puts additional pressure on our capacity.
Please note that we cannot expand our capacity without canceling further surgeries. Doing so would free up additional staff who could be deployed to treat ICU patients. While this matter is under consideration, we are mindful of the potential impacts on surgical patients most in need. We will continue to keep you advised.
In the meantime our regional partners, Health Sciences Centre (a tertiary care facility) and Grace Hospital (acute care) are working with us to create capacity to meet the surge in patients that will need critical care going forward.
“We pause to thank our employees for dedicating themselves to the superior care they are providing under the most trying of circumstances,” said Martine Bouchard, St. Boniface Hospital President & CEO. “We also encourage every Manitoban to once again join the team in helping to flatten the curve. Together, we can make a huge difference in protecting our patients and staff alike.”
COVID-19 Outbreak Update
(October 29, 2020)
As we continue our investigation into the outbreak on three units, targeted testing has identified new cases among patients and staff:
• A total of 25 patients have tested positive for COVID-19. That is an increase of 2 since the last update.
• Eleven (11) staff have tested positive for COVID-19; an increase of 1 since our last update.
To date, there have been four (4) deaths associated with the outbreaks; three related to the St. Boniface outbreak and one patient transferred to St. Boniface related to the Victoria outbreak. “On behalf of the entire St. Boniface Hospital family, we offer our deepest condolences to these patients’ families and loved ones at this difficult time,” said Martine Bouchard, St. Boniface Hospital, President & CEO. “The safety of our patients, staff, physicians and visitors is paramount. Our teams continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively to contain transmission of the virus and provide a safe environment for all.”
Outbreak protocols have been implemented at the hospital to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the following measures have been implemented:
• Visitor restrictions are currently in place at St. Boniface Hospital. We encourage families to continue to meet virtually with their loved ones.
• Testing of patients and staff continues. All potential contacts are being traced to ensure we reduce the possibility of spread and we are following Occupational Health & Safety and Public Health isolation and testing protocols.
• Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
• Ensuring the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment, including donning and doffing of equipment.
• Ensuring physical distancing on units and common areas.Promoting proper hand hygiene practices.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue unless advised otherwise.
We would like to assure the community we are doing everything we can to contain the transmission of COVID-19 at our facility.
Our efforts continue to keep patients, staff and our community safe.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
Some Surgeries Postponed
(Updated: October 28 at 12:30 p.m.)
St. Boniface Hospital has had to postpone general and cardiac surgeries due to potential COVID-19 exposure of our operating room and critical care teams, who, as a result, are required to be off work for 14 days.
We have worked closely with the Regional Surgery Program to avoid as many postponements as possible.
Non-urgent or elective surgery requiring inpatient admission are being postponed. We have reached out to patients whose surgery is affected.
Surgeries will be prioritized for urgent/emergent cases, inpatients waiting in hospital, cardiac and cancer patients, and previously cancelled patients.
We are monitoring the situation daily to minimize the impact on our patients awaiting surgery.
COIVD-19 Outbreak Update
(October 27, 2020)
COVID-19 outbreaks at St. Boniface Hospital are linked to three units.
To date, there have been four (4) deaths associated with the outbreaks; three related to the St. Boniface outbreak and one patient transferred to St. Boniface related to the Victoria outbreak.
“At this time, we pause to extend our most sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of these patients,” said Martine Bouchard, St. Boniface Hospital President & CEO. “We know this is upsetting news and call on all of our staff to continue of find the strength and courage to keep focused on making every effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.”
A total of 23 patients have tested positive – an increase of one (1) since our last update.?
Ten (10) staff members have tested positive – an increase of one (1) since our last update.
Visitor restrictions are currently in place. We encourage families to continue to meet virtually with their loved ones.
Scheduled appointments will continue as usual. Patients arriving at the hospital for a scheduled appointment or procedure will be screened for symptoms and travel history as before.
Patient Visits Temporarily Suspended
(Update: October 24, 2020 at 8:10 p.m.)
Effective immediately, we are suspending visits to patients with limited exceptions*, until further notice.
This temporary measure is one of many aimed at containing the COVID-19 outbreaks at St. Boniface Hospital including our outbreak protocols, previously implemented, to minimize the risk of spread by:
Thoroughly cleaning with hospital grade disinfectants;
Ensuring proper usage of PPE, including donning and doffing;
Ensuring proper physical distancing on units and common areas;
Ensuring proper hand hygiene practices are being followed.
While we understand that this will be difficult for patients and their families, patient and staff health and safety is paramount as we make every effort to contain the COVID-19 outbreaks.
We encourage friends and families of patients to use our Well Wishes Program and/or to continue virtual visits.
Scheduled appointments will continue as usual. Patients arriving at the hospital for a scheduled appointment or procedure will be screened for symptoms and travel history as before.
COVID-19 outbreaks at St. Boniface Hospital are linked to three units. To date, a total of 22 patients have tested positive – an increase of 11 since our last update.? Nine staff members have tested positive – an increase of four (4) since our last update. Anyone potentially exposed is being identified and directed to self-isolate and, if necessary, will be tested as we investigate the origins of the transmission.
To date, there has been one death associated with the outbreaks. At this time, we pause to extend our condolences to the patient’s family and loved ones.
We care deeply for our patients and staff and are doing everything we can to contain transmission and keep patients and the public safe and healthy.
We thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
*Rules for visiting laboring patients, infants in NICU and end-of-life patients remain unchanged.
Notification of COVID-19 Outbreak on patient care units (E5, E6 & B5)
(Update: Saturday, October 24, 2020)
St. Boniface Hospital is currently investigating a third COVID-19 outbreak linked to the B5 medicine unit.
Outbreak protocols have been implemented at the hospital to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors. Anyone potentially exposed is being identified and directed to self-isolate and, if necessary, will be tested as we investigate the origins of the transmission.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the following measures have been implemented:
• Suspension of new patient admissions to the E5, E6 and B5 units.
• Restriction of visits to the units as per the Provincial Guidelines. We encourage families to continue virtual visits with their loved one.
These measures continue:
• Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
• Ensuring the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment, including donning and doffing of equipment.
• Ensuring physical distancing on units and common areas.
• Promoting proper hand hygiene practices.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue as usual.
We are doing all that we can to contain transmission of COVID-19. Our efforts continue to keep patients, employees and our community safe.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
Notification of COVID-19 Outbreak on patient care units (E5 & E6)
(Update: Wednesday, October 21, 2020)
St. Boniface Hospital is currently investigating two (2) COVID-19 outbreaks linked to our E5 & E6 medicine units.
As of 11 am today, there are 11 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in relation to these outbreaks.
Five (5) staff members have tested positive.
Outbreak protocols have been implemented at the hospital to ensure the ongoing protection of patients, staff and visitors. All potential contacts between October 5 and October 20 are being traced so that they can self-isolate and, if necessary, be tested as we investigate the origins of the transmission.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the following measures have been implemented:
Suspension of new patient admissions to the E5 & E6 units.
Restriction of visits to the units as per the Provincial Guidelines. We encourage families to continue virtual visits with their loved one.
These measures continue:
Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces.
Ensuring the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment, including donning and doffing of equipment.
Ensuring physical distancing on units and common areas.
Promoting proper hand hygiene practices.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open. Clinics and procedures continue as usual.
We are doing all that we can to contain transmission of COVID-19. Our efforts continue to keep patients, employees and our community safe.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.
Notification of COVID-19 Outbreak on E6
(Friday, October 16, 2020)
Recently, as part of our normal surveillance, we identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases connected to one patient care unit (E6) at St. Boniface Hospital. This led us to rapidly assess the unit and test all contacts who may have been exposed between October 5 and October 16, 2020.
We identified two (2) patients who tested positive for COVID-19. They acquired the infection while in hospital. When two or more such patients are identified, it meets the definition of an outbreak as set out by public health.
Working with Public Health, Occupational Health & Safety and Infection Prevention & Control, the following measures have been implemented:
• E6 is closed to admissions.
• We are restricting visitation on E6 as per the Provincial Guidelines and families are encouraged to visit virtually.
• All potential contacts of these patients are being traced so that they can self-isolate and be tested.
• Additional cleaning procedures are in place.
St. Boniface Hospital remains open, and clinics and procedures continue as usual. The hospital is safe for patients and other approved visitors/essential designated support persons.
Please be assured that we have moved quickly to enact precautions to prevent any further spread of illness. The health of patients, employees and our community is our top priority.
Regular updates will be provided on this web page as the situation unfolds.