COVID-19 outbreak at GBGH declared over

January 12, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, has officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak over. The outbreak, which was initially declared on December 4, included the hospital’s 2 North inpatient unit. Several other inpatient units were part of the outbreak, but were removed on December 22 and January 5.

“Getting through this COVID-19 outbreak has been very challenging during an already difficult time throughout the past 10 months of the pandemic,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “I am proud of our teams’ diligence during the implementation of enhanced safety measures and I thank them for their commitment to bring this outbreak to an end. I’d also like to thank our community for its ongoing support and generosity. Finally, on behalf of GBGH, I’d like to offer our deepest condolences to the families of patients who passed away in connection with the outbreak.”

Although the outbreak is over, GBGH will continue following strict infection prevention and control measures such as enhanced cleaning, utilizing droplet/contact precautions for all patients and masking of patients during all care. The hospital will also continue to restrict visitation to all but essential visitors or those who meet exceptional circumstances (palliative, birthing). This decision to continue restricted visitation is due to the increased prevalence of COVID-19 in the community.

Between January 1 and 10, 60 per cent (550 people) of GBGH staff and credentialed staff received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine through the COVID-19 Immunization Clinic in Barrie.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Another inpatient unit removed from COVID-19 outbreak at GBGH

January 5, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is now able to remove the 1 North inpatient unit from its COVID-19 outbreak – a decision made in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. The 2 North inpatient unit is now the only remaining area of the hospital still considered to be in outbreak. The hospital had previously removed 2 East, ICU and Obstetrics from the outbreak on December 22.

Over the past weekend and within the upcoming week, more than 50 per cent of GBGH staff and credentialed staff will receive the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the Barrie Immunization Clinic. GBGH staff and credentialed staff are travelling to receive the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Barrie due to its temperature sensitivity.

“This week is historic for our hospital as the majority of our staff and credentialed staff will have received their first dose of the vaccine by January 10,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Our goal at GBGH is to provide safe, exceptional care and having this vaccine available to us so quickly brings hope and a much-needed morale boost to our team.”

GBGH staff and credentialed staff will receive their second dose of the vaccine approximately 21 days after the first dose. Even once the vaccine provides full immunity, the hospital will continue following public health guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE) and physical distancing to ensure the ongoing safety of patients and team members.

As of January 5, there have been the following cases related to the outbreak:

• 32 patient cases
  • Six patients admitted in hospital
  • 19 patients discharged
  • Six outbreak-related deaths
• 32 staff/credentialed staff cases
• One visitor related to the outbreak (high risk contact of a COVID positive patient during their period of communicability)

Statistics related to the outbreak are updated daily and can be found on the GBGH website – https://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-updates/

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH resumes some elective and non-urgent procedures and surgeries

December 30, 2020 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is resuming non-urgent and elective procedures and surgeries after these services were postponed December 7 at the beginning of the outbreak. The resumption of services includes ambulatory care procedures, such as endoscopy, which were also postponed. The decision to proceed was based on no transmission in the surgical and ambulatory care departments and was made in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

“GBGH has a comprehensive plan to safely and efficiently resume elective and non-urgent surgeries and procedures, ensuring our community once again has access to these important services,” says Dr. Vikram Ralhan, chief of staff and chair, Elective Surgical and Procedural Oversight Committee, GBGH. “We have worked with our physicians and clinical leaders to develop and implement a plan which will enable us to re-schedule procedures and gradually catch up on any waitlists created by this postponement.”

Physicians’ offices or the hospital will contact patients to notify them regarding re-scheduling their surgery or procedure. Urgent and emergent surgeries and procedures have always continued throughout the pandemic and recent outbreak. The hospital does have plans in place should it need to suddenly ramp down services again due to a surge in COVID-19 patients.

As of the end of day December 29, there have been the following cases related to the outbreak:

• 31 patient cases
  • 10 patients admitted in hospital
  • 15 patients discharged
  • Six outbreak-related deaths
• 27 staff/credentialed staff cases
• One visitor related to the outbreak (high risk contact of a COVID positive patient during their period of communicability)

Statistics related to the outbreak are updated daily and can be found on the GBGH website – https://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-updates/

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH team helping fulfill Christmas Angel Wishes in our community

December 22, 2020 – For the past 16 years, team members from Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) have contributed gifts to families in need through the Christmas Angel Wish campaign with Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions. This year, the hospital was sent a list of 17 wishes for children ranging in age from infant to teenagers, and all are being fulfilled. Special thank you to GBGH team member Kary Miller (Staffing) for organizing the hospital’s campaign and R.U.Moving? for helping deliver GBGH’s gifts.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Three inpatient units removed from GBGH COVID-19 outbreak

December 22, 2020 – Three of five inpatient units at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) have been removed from the organization’s COVID-19 outbreak. 2 East, Obstetrics and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are no longer considered to be part of the outbreak as there has been no transmission in these areas. This decision was made in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

The outbreak was initially declared on the 2 North inpatient unit on December 4 and was then expanded to all inpatient units as a precaution on December 7.

“Soon after the outbreak was declared on the 2 North inpatient unit, we added all inpatient units as a precaution to monitor possible transmission beyond the initial cluster of cases,” says Dr. Dan Lee, chief of Emergency Medicine and COVID-19 medical lead, GBGH. “Now that we have confirmed no transmission in these areas, we have consulted with public health and it has been deemed safe to remove the ICU, 2 East and Obstetrics from the outbreak.”

All areas of the hospital will continue to maintain strict guidelines related to personal protective equipment (PPE), enhanced cleaning, and other infection prevention and control measures such as the masking of patients for any contact within two metres. All new admissions to the hospital will continue to be tested for COVID-19 and all patients are receiving care under the presumption of possibly being COVID-positive.

As of the end of day December 21, there have been the following cases related to the outbreak:

• 23 patient cases
  • 12 remain admitted in hospital
  • Eight discharged
  • Three outbreak-related deaths
• 24 staff/credentialed staff cases
• One visitor related to the outbreak (high risk contact of a COVID positive patient during their period of communicability)

Statistics related to the outbreak are updated daily and can be found on the GBGH website – https://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-updates/

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH COVID-19 outbreak update: December 17, 2020

December 17, 2020 – The COVID-19 outbreak on all inpatient units at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), declared December 4 in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), continues. Through extensive contact tracing with public health, the hospital is making significant progress in determining the original location and source of the outbreak.

As of the end of day December 17, there have been the following cases related to the outbreak:

• 18 patient cases
  • Ten remain admitted in hospital
  • Six discharged home
  • Two outbreak-related deaths
• 22 staff/credentialed staff cases
• One visitor related to the outbreak (high risk contact of a COVID positive patient during their period of communicability)

At this time, all the cases confirmed to date are related to the initial transmission in early December. There have been no new sources of transmission found since outbreak infection prevention and control protocols were implemented on December 4.

“We know the incubation period for COVID-19 can be up to 14 days long,” says Dr. Dan Lee, chief of Emergency Medicine and COVID-19 medical lead, GBGH. “The cases we’ve discovered over the past 13 days, through our surveillance testing and from looking at connections between cases, are all related to the initial source of the outbreak. Although we’ve had infection prevention and control measures in place from the outset of the pandemic, the enhanced precautions post-outbreak have helped prevent new transmissions.”

At this time, non-urgent and elective surgeries and procedures are still postponed. GBGH is taking guidance from public health regarding timing to safely resume these services.

“We understand the postponement of non-urgent or elective procedures and surgeries is never ideal,” says Dr. Vik Ralhan, chief of staff and chair, Elective Surgical and Procedural Oversight Committee, GBGH. “Some conditions can become more urgent when delayed, it is frustrating for patients who have to wait, not only for safety, but quality of life as well. Our physicians always have timely patient care at the top of their minds and are eager to proceed with a ramp up when authorized. The resumption date is being evaluated on a daily basis to get elective procedures and surgeries up and running. We recognize this is frustrating, but want everyone to know that one of our top priorities is to get up and running safely.”

Statistics related to the outbreak are updated daily and can be found on the GBGH website – https://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-updates/

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH COVID-19 outbreak update: December 10, 2020

December 10, 2020 – The COVID-19 outbreak on all inpatient units at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), declared December 4 in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, continues.

As of the end of day December 9, there have been the following cases related to the outbreak:

• Six inpatient cases
  • Four remain admitted in hospital
  • One discharged home
  • One death
• 17 staff/credentialed staff cases

Contact tracing for current patients and staff is being completed through the hospital’s Occupational Health and Safety and Infection Prevention and Control departments. Contact information for anyone who has been an inpatient (and has now been discharged) or outpatient at the hospital, or who may be considered a high-risk contact of one of these cases, has been provided to public health for community follow-up.

GBGH has tested 527 staff and credentialed staff since December 5.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH COVID-19 outbreak: Contact tracing update

December 8, 2020 – Due to the COVID-19 outbreak on all inpatient units at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) extensive contact tracing is taking place in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

If someone received care at the hospital between November 23 and December 4 (the day the outbreak was declared) and were in contact with a patient or staff member who has tested positive for COVID, their names have been identified through extensive contact tracing. Contact tracing for current patients and staff is being completed through the hospital’s Occupational Health and Safety and Infection Prevention and Control departments. Contact information for anyone who has been an inpatient (and has now been discharged) or outpatient at the hospital, or who may be considered a high-risk contact of one of these cases, has been provided to public health for community follow-up.

There are currently 16 staff/credentialed staff cases and three inpatient cases identified as part of the outbreak. This is an increase of three staff and one inpatient since December 7.

GBGH continued to test staff and credentialed staff on December 8 as part of efforts to identify any positive cases. All inpatients have been tested and all new patient admissions to the hospital are being tested.

“Over the past four days, the hospital has tested more than 520 staff and credentialed staff,” says Dr. Dan Lee, COVID medical lead and chief of Emergency Medicine, GBGH. “As more testing tends to net more positive results, we do expect the potential to see an increase in positives, similar to when testing increases in the community and more positive cases are detected.”

The Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre has also seen an increase in positive cases in the past week with eight new confirmed community cases. This does not include cases related to the outbreak at GBGH. Anyone in the community who is experiencing symptoms should seek COVID-19 testing via the Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre by booking online via the GBGH website or by calling 705-529-1025.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH COVID-19 outbreak update: December 7, 2020

December 7, 2020 – An outbreak of COVID-19 declared at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) on December 4, in collaboration with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, has now been changed to include all inpatient units at the hospital due to additional staff positive cases. This includes 2 North, 2 East, 1 North, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Obstetrics.

Initially the outbreak impacted the 2 North inpatient unit. On December 3, one admitted patient and one staff member from 2 North were confirmed positive for COVID-19, initiating the outbreak to be called on the specific unit.

Through testing over the weekend, the hospital has now confirmed an additional 12 staff and credentialed staff (physicians, midwives, dentists) infections in areas of the hospital outside of 2 North. GBGH has confirmed an additional inpatient case bringing the total to two patients and 13 staff/credentialed staff.

“We are deeply concerned about the status of this outbreak and I want to assure our staff and our community we are doing everything we can in the best interests of our patients and our team members,” says Gail Hunt, president and chief executive officer, GBGH. “Over the weekend, our team has been working tirelessly to test, conduct contact tracing and implement the necessary measures to manage this outbreak and we will continue to put all our best efforts forward.”

Over the weekend, GBGH conducted extensive testing of all patients on the 2 North and 1 North units. On December 7 all patients on the 2 East inpatient unit and ICU were swabbed. Of the testing completed with 2 North patients on December 5, results have been received and they have all been negative. The hospital is awaiting results for 1 North, 2 East and the ICU. Contact tracing is currently underway to thoroughly examine transmission and potential exposures, either high or low risk.

“GBGH continues to work closely with public health to manage and control this outbreak which includes thorough contact tracing and enhanced infection prevention and control,” says Dr. Dan Lee, COVID medical lead and chief of Emergency Medicine, GBGH. “Based on the test results we’re receiving we are seeing more positive cases among staff than patients. The majority of transmission appears to be from staff to staff based on our preliminary findings.”

The hospital tested 167 staff on Saturday and Sunday, and is continuing to test today and December 8. GBGH is also testing all new admissions to detect infections which may have been contracted in the community.

Effective December 8, non-urgent and elective surgical and ambulatory care (endoscopy) procedures scheduled at the hospital are being postponed at this time. Urgent and emergent surgeries and endoscopies will proceed at this time, as will Diagnostic Imaging. Physicians’ offices or the hospital will contact patients to notify them if their procedure is being postponed.

Visitation to the hospital remains restricted with the exception of special circumstances (palliative, birthing unit) on a case-by-case basis.

Currently, there are 44 active hospital outbreaks across the province.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca