COVID-19 Outbreaks on Orthopaedic Surgery and Internal Medicine at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital

SAINT JOHN – COVID-19 outbreaks have been declared on Orthopaedic Surgery (3CS) and Internal Medicine (4CN) units at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital (SJRH) after a patient on each unit tested positive for COVID-19.

Horizon has implemented comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) precautions, such as enhanced cleaning as well as contact tracing to protect the health of patients and staff.

Patient and staff in affected units are being tested; so far, no further cases have been identified. Inpatients are being screened for COVID-19 symptoms twice a day (every 12 hours).

During this time, there will be no patient admissions or transfers to and from these units.

SJRH is a tertiary care facility that specialized in trauma and cardiac care, and staff and physicians will continue to provide essential services and safe and quality care to patients.

This means surgeries, labour and birth services, ambulatory care and professional services appointments will continue; the public will be notified of any temporary service closures or interruptions. We are asking the public to visit the SJRH Emergency Department only if they have a medical emergency.

Horizon’s Designated Support Person (DSP) program will be temporarily suspended on these units and Horizon’s existing visitor restrictions remain in place.

These temporary measures are in place to ensure the health and safety of our patients and clients, staff, physicians, and the community.

We understand it is difficult for families and friends to be separated from their loved ones during this period. We encourage people to use technology to connect with our patients.

Our staff are working diligently to provide care and comfort to our patients during these outbreaks.

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For more information contact:

Kris McDavid
Media Relations
1-877-499-1899
media@horizonnb.ca
horizonnb.ca/news