Covenant Health investigating 2 positive COVID cases in patients at Bonnyville Health Centre

Covenant Health is currently investigating two positive cases of COVID-19 at the Bonnyville Health Centre after the site was listed in outbreak status on the province’s website.

Covenant Health spokesperson Karen Diaper said in a written statement that the Acute 2 unit was placed on outbreak on March 4 and is closed to admissions and transfers.

Diaper said the outbreak is limited to this unit at this time and all patients in the unit have been tested. Testing for all staff is ongoing, even if they are not showing symptoms, said Diaper.

“All potential contacts are being traced to ensure we reduce the possibility of spread and we are following Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness, and Public Health isolation and testing protocols,” said Diaper.

When asked whether a patient came into the hospital needing to be treated with COVID-19 or if there was a different point of entry, Diaper said the situation is under investigation.

There are strict visitation restrictions in place–no visitors are allowed in the Acute 2 unit unless a patient is at end of life or has other extenuating circumstances, said Diaper.

Virtual visitation is encouraged.

Diaper said they are working with the office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and Alberta Health Services to ensure the Bonnyville Health Centre is safe and is following protocols to minimize the risk of spread.

This includes thorough environmental cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants, ensuring proper usage of PPE, including donning and doffing, proper physical distancing on units and common areas, and proper hand hygiene practices are being followed.

“We care deeply for our patients and staff. We are doing everything we can to contain transmission and keep patients and the public safe and healthy,” said Diaper.

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Lakeland wide

Six new cases have been reported in Smoky Lake County, however, active cases dropped to 77 as of Wednesday on the province’s virus data map.

Recoveries continue to increase in Goodfish Lake where there are now 40 active cases in their last update.

Two new cases are shown in the County of St. Paul, but active cases dropped as well to 40 on Wednesday.

Active cases are up in Cold Lake after four new cases, leaving 16 active within the city.

Within the M.D. of Bonnyville, there are 23 active cases now after one new positive and two recoveries from yesterday.

Zero new cases were reported in Lac La Biche County where there is 13 active cases. Two Hills County and County of Vermilion River have two active cases each.

Provincial update

Over the last 24 hours, 399 new cases were identified in Alberta after over 10,000 tests.

The testing positivity rate was 3.7 per cent.

There are 254 people in hospital due to COVID-19, including 37 in intensive care.

Alberta has identified 47 additional cases of variants, bringing the provincial total to 734.

As of March 9, 308,962 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Alberta. This is 6,987.1 doses per 100,000 population. There are now 91,259 Albertans fully vaccinated with two doses.