CEO Statement: COVID-19 Outbreak Declared at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation and Veterans Health Unit May 13, 2021 (FREDERICTON) – Horizon has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH), Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation and Veterans Health Unit. Effective immediately,we will be returning to our Red Alert Level protocols for these facilities. We will also be restricting all visitation at these facilities. Some exceptions apply; this information will be available on Horizon’s website later today. As well, non-urgent surgeries and ambulatory care (outpatient) appointments will be postponed until further notice. Non-urgent professional service outpatient appointments, including therapeutic services, blood and specimen collection, diagnostic imaging (X-ray), electrodiagnostics and respiratory therapy,will also be postponeduntil further notice. Affected patients have been notified, and we certainly appreciate their patience and understanding. While postponing these important services is certainly not ideal, it is of the utmost importance that we act swiftly to ensure the safety of our patients, physicians and staff and do everything we can to mitigate the risk of spread in our facilities. These measures are being put in place because an employee at the DECRH tested positive for a COVID-19 variant of concern today, Thursday, May 13. The employee is self-isolating, but there has been a high-risk of exposure in recent days. Employee Health will contact any staff and physicians who were potentially exposed. Active screening for COVID-19 symptoms will continue for staff and physicians at all three facilities. I ask all of you to continue to be vigilant in protecting yourself and others by following our Public Health and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. Sincerely, Karen McGrath President and CEOHorizon Health Network