COVID-19 cases rising at Kateri
Bill 2 comes into effect in January, and MCK chiefs say it could have a negative impact on healthcare services in the community. File photo
There are now seven active COVID-19 infections in the long-term care department at the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC). That’s up from four, the number of residents infected with the virus last week.
“The KMHC would like to remind the community that COVID-19 is spread by droplet. Being in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 puts them at risk of getting COVID-19,” Robin Guyer, director of nursing and community care, shared through a short written comment. “As always, the best protection is staying away from loved ones when you’re sick, wearing a mask, and practicing hand hygiene.”
All hospital staff, including their kitchen, maintenance, and security staff, are being asked to abide by various protocols aimed at reducing the spread of the virus, such as ceasing from rotating between different departments. Medical staff treating those infected have been given N95 masks.
The outbreak was first declared on Wednesday, April 9, and was at first limited to just two residents. Families of residents and staff were all notified the same day.
Cases of COVID-19 haven’t been detected in any other wings of the hospital, which community members can access without having to wear a mask.
Anyone visiting the long-term care unit however must wear one and practice hand hygiene in the meantime. Those with flu-like symptoms are also being asked to stay away.
Those that have contracted the virus are currently isolating in their individual rooms to prevent the spread of the virus. According to the hospital, all of them are doing well.
Those who aren’t infected are being encouraged to stay in their rooms in the meantime. Group activities the residents would usually join in on are also on pause.
Kahentiióhstha’ (Roberta) Duhaime visits her mother, Mary Paul, just about every day at the hospital and said she’s relieved to see this outbreak isn’t as severe as others she’s witnessed. Thankfully, her mother isn’t among those who have tested positive.
“The only restrictions are to wear the mask and the hand washing,” said Duhaime, whose mother celebrated her 104th birthday this summer.
“It’s not as worrisome as what we had here in the last few months,” she said, mentioning another instance after Christmas when a viral infection hit her mother’s unit and she contracted it. “With the other infections, there were more restrictions. I had to wear a gown, a mask and gloves, and anyone who came into my mother’s room had to do that. They were very strict.”
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The hospital couldn’t confirm which virus was involved in that instance.
“It’s possible we had cases of other respiratory viruses over the winter, but we don’t share this information unless it reaches the classification of an outbreak,” wrote Simona Rosenfield, a spokesperson with the hospital.
