BREAKING: St. Joseph’s Special Care Nursery has declared an outbreak of COVID-19

With three staff members testing positive for the novel coronavirus, an outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared at the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) Special Care Nursery.

A media release issued by the City of Hamilton on Monday morning confirms that of the three healthcare workers who tested positive, one came into zero direct contact with patients and their families, while the other two had either limited contact or contact while wearing a protective mask.

Hamilton Public Health and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) have declared a COVID-19 healthcare worker outbreak at SJHH’s Special Care Nursery after three healthcare providers who work at the unit tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. https://t.co/xaWvFbLHMW #HamOnt

— City of Hamilton (@cityofhamilton) April 6, 2020

None of the workers were symptomatic while working with any babies or families at SJHH.

The babies and families who may have come in contact with one of the positive healthcare workers will be tested and closely monitored in an attempt to limit any potential further transmission or spread.

SJHH has also created a separate area for babies who were potentially exposed to the virus, and a deep cleaning of the whole unit is in process, with diligent infection prevention and control measures being implemented as well.

As of now, no babies or parents present any symptoms of COVID-19, and the current medical research around the virus suggests that most babies will experience only mild symptoms and fully recover.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Special Care Nursery will continue to accept babies born at SJHH who require care.

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• Hamilton
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• St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton