A facility-wide COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay and increased visiting restrictions are now in place, according to a media release from the hospital.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit declared the outbreak on Wednesday (October 19), with 18 COVID-19 positive patients admitted to the hospital as of early Wednesday and the hospital’s Surgical South and Rehab units already declared in outbreak on October 12.
To prevent transmission of the virus and to protect staff and patients, visitors will need to pass COVID-19 symptom screening and will only be allowed into the hospital to see patients who are near end-of-life (within weeks), who are under 18 years of age (supported by parents or legal guardians), who require a support person (when receiving a life-altering diagnosis, experiencing a mental health crisis, or are developmentally or intellectually delayed), who require a support person to safely attend their appointment (e.g., due to dementia, significant developmental or intellectual delay, the inability to effectively communicate, mobility issues that cannot be supported by the health-care team), or who are giving birth at the hospital (supported by birthing partner).
While patients requiring emergency medical care should still go to the emergency department, the hospital is urging those with less urgent conditions to consider alternate options for care such as their primary health care provider, pharmacist, after-hours clinic, virtual care, or calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
After-hours clinics can often treat non-urgent and minor illnesses and ailments, such as earaches, sore throats, or prescription refills.
The earliest the facility-wide outbreak may be lifted is Saturday, October 29th.
For more information about Ross Memorial Hospital’s visiting restrictions and protocols, visit rmh.org/covid-19
