COVID-19 outbreak at St. Paul's hospital spreads to two more units

After a COVID-19 outbreak was declared on unit 5A in the Heart Centre at St. Paul’s Hospital last week, officials confirmed on Monday that the outbreak has now expanded to more units.

In a statement, St. Paul’s operator, Providence Healthcare, said the outbreak declared at St. Paul’s Hospital’s 5A​ cardiac unit has been expanded to include 5B cardiac and the cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU).

Officials said patient care and services will be maintained in the Heart Centre areas that are not impacted by the outbreaks.

Officials stressed that St. Paul’s Hospital “remains open and is prepared to safely receive and care for all individuals who require urgent and emergent care.”

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At this time, “there is no impact to other areas of St. Paul’s Hospital,” they added. “Please do not delay in seeking care as this could exacerbate your condition.

Vancouver Coastal Health has immediately implemented strict infection prevention and control protocols to prevent further transmission of COVID-19. These include:

• Careful monitoring of patients, staff and physicians
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of all high-touch surfaces
• Closing the units to patient admissions and transfers
• Cohorting of staff to the affected areas
• Self-monitoring or self-isolation of staff/physicians as part of Public Health contact tracing
• Suspension of visitors to the unit (with exemptions for end-of-life situations)

Vancouver Coastal Health is also in the process of notifying patients on the affected units as well as their families.