SLMHC Declares COVID-19 Outbreak

Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) has identified two (2) positive cases of COVID-19 in-hospital.

A hospital COVID-19 outbreak has been defined in Ontario as: Two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases (patients and/or staff) within a specified area (unit/floor/service) within a 14-day period where both cases could have reasonably acquired their infection in the hospital. Both patients have been in-patients for a long period of time, which tells us that they contracted COVID-19 while at the hospital.

Effective immediately, visitation will be limited at SLMHC to two (2) designated visitors per patient. Contact tracing is also underway at SLMHC. Anyone who is identified as a risk has been contacted.

“We have processes in place to provide the safest possible environment for our patients, staff and physicians. Our priority is to see this outbreak contained quickly,” says Douglas Semple, SLMHC President and CEO.

In addition to continuing daily screening and adherence to personal protective equipment standards, such as masks and eye protection, SLMHC’s housekeeping department is following policies relating to increased cleaning and proper handling of an outbreak.

For more information on visitor restrictions and how services are impacted at the hospital, please visit slmhc.on.ca/covid19.