Coronavirus outbreak hits Montreal General Hospital for 2nd time in a week

The Montreal General Hospital is dealing with its second COVID-19 outbreak in seven days.

In a press release on Tuesday, the hospital said four patients and three staff members from the 15th floor tested positive for the virus, four days after three patients and one staff member tested positive in another unit.

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), the network that oversees the hospital said that no admissions will be permitted to the 15th-floor except for “exceptional cases,” until further notice.

Four patients and three healthcare workers have tested positive for the virus to date.

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All patients and health-care workers admitted to the 15th floor will be tested for coronavirus throughout the week and patients who encountered subsequent exposure will be isolated.

“In accordance with COVID-19 protocols, the infection prevention and control department and human resources teams are conducting an epidemiological investigation to trace close contacts of infected individuals,” says the MUHC.

The General Hospital’s 15th floor also dealt with an outbreak in April during the first wave of the pandemic where six patients and 10 staff members tested positive.

“Healthcare teams are strictly following infection control measures to reduce internal transmission,” concluded the release.