Toronto Western sending new COVID-19 patients to different hospital

Toronto Western Hospital says they are temporarily diverting new patients with COVID-19 to Toronto General Hospital.

The decision, which they say was voluntary, comes as the hospital relocates their designated COVID unit to another floor. Both facilities are part of the University Health Network.

The move is not related to Toronto Western’s current outbreak of coronavirus and the number of infected patients and staff has not increased, said Alexa Giorgi, a Senior Public Affairs Advisor at University Health Network.

“Until the move is complete, individuals who are admitted through Toronto Western’s Emergency Department with COVID-19 will be cared for on the COVID unit at Toronto General,” Giorgi said.

Toronto Western declared a COVID-19 outbreak in its 8A and 8B units on October 15, the former of which is their coronavirus designated unit.

Since then they have taken a number of precautions to stop the spread, including closing the units to new admissions, terminally cleaning the units, enhancing the cleaning of common spaces and the locker room on 8A on an ongoing basis, increasing the number of housekeeping staff on 8A to allow for daily enhanced cleaning, regularly testing all staff in both units and patients in 8B for coronavirus, and undertaking contact tracing when necessary.

A number of other Toronto hospitals have declared virus outbreaks this month.

Since October 1, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, St. Michael’s Hospital, Scarborough General Hospital, North York General Hospital and Toronto Rehab’s University Centre have all declared outbreaks.