3rd COVID-19 outbreak declared at Juravinski Hospital

A third COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre after another patient tested positive for the virus.

The most recent case comes after two outbreaks were declared at units in the hospital late last week.

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) says 18cases, including nine patients, eight staff members and a student, have now been linked to theoutbreaks.

The hospital says the staff members and student who were infected are now in self-isolation.

Patient in F5 tests positive

The most recent outbreak is in F5, an area of the hospital forpatients who have stable conditions but can't be cared for at home.

In a media release Sunday, HHSsaysthe patient who tested positive there is now in isolation.

The unit is closed for admissions and no visitors are allowed, except for on compassionate grounds, according to the hospital.

"Staff working on the unit will not work anywhere else until the outbreak is declared over," reads the release.

"Testing continues for all health care workers on F5 as well as any staff who may have spent prolonged periods of time on the unit. The remainder of patients on the unit are being tested as well."

HHS says additional cleaning, even beyond the enhanced measures that were already being provided during the pandemic, is underway.

The hospital says families with loved ones in the wards where an outbreak is taking place have been contacted.

"As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the safety of our patients, families, and staff continues to be our priority,"HHS spokesperson Veronica Magee wrotein an email.

"We are coping given higher volumes and care is proceeding safely in the units and throughout the site," she added.