Status Report: Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital Campus – Outbreak to end at midnight

(FREDERICTON) – Due to a high-risk exposure with the novel P.1.617.2 variant of COVID-19 involving multiple contacts throughout the facility, an outbreak was declared at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH) campus – which also includes the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation (SCCR) and Veterans Health Unit (VHU) – on May 13, 2021, resulting in a return to Red Alert Level protocols for these facilities.

We are pleased to report, following aggressive management, contact tracing, and testing there have been no evidence of secondary transmission within the DECRH campus, as such the outbreak will be declared over,as of 12 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26 and Yellow Alert Level protocols will resume.

This means, effective tomorrow, inpatient visits can resume between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., with patients able to welcome ONE healthy visitor at a time.

Elective surgeries and ambulatory (outpatient) services which had been postponed during the outbreak will also resume.

We wish to thank our patients, clients, their family members, as well as our physicians and staff for their patience and understanding over the last two weeks.

With the reversion back to Yellow Alert Level protocols taking place at midnight, this will serve as the final public update on this situation.

Data

Staffing Levels(DECRH campus*)

–      Number of staff off work today due to COVID-19 related reasons:77

COVID-19 Patients(at DECRH, unless otherwise noted)

  • Number of COVID-19 patients in hospital:2
  • Number of COVID-19 patients in ICU:0

Hospital Data(at DECRH, unless otherwise noted)

–      Occupancy rate

  • DECRH:86%
  • Occupancy rates at other hospitals in Zone 3 (Fredericton area) remain high:
    • Oromocto Public Hospital (OPH):98%
    • Upper River Valley Hospital:115%

–      Number of available ICU beds:1

–      Number of surgeries postponed today:15

–      Number of Emergency Department visits yesterday:

  • DECRH:123
  • OPH:57

Testing Data(Fredericton area)

Number of swabs performed yesterday:515-498(Fredericton);17(Hartland)

Update on Services:

Emergency Department:  If you have a medical emergency, the emergency department at the DECRH remains open. For non-urgent medical needs, please visit sowhywait.ca, or contact your primary health care provider or nearest after-hours clinic.

Outpatient services and surgery: Non-urgent surgeries and outpatient services are being postponed until further notice. All other services remain in place.

Visitor restrictions: There are  NO VISITORS ALLOWED at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH) or Pavilion, Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation, and Veterans Health Unit. Some exceptions to visitor restrictions are in place for certain patients.

Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation:Non-urgent services are postponed until further notice. Urgent and semi-urgent cases continue to be seen by therapists and physicians.

Please visit Horizonnb.ca and follow us on our social media channels.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we protect the safety of our patients, clients, staff and communities.