St. Clare's COVID-19 count rises to 12 as ward involved in outbreak closes for 2 weeks

Two more staff members from a ward at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital in St. John's have tested positive for COVID-19,Eastern Health chief executive officerDavid Diamond saidMonday.

That brings the total number of staff and patients from the beleaguered 6 East unit with the disease up to 12:seven staff members and five patients.

The ward is now closed for a two-week "circuit breaker,"said Diamond. He said the remaining patients had been transferred on Sunday night.

Over the weekend, 1,500 staff and patients of St. Clare's hospital were tested. Diamond said 90 per cent of the test results are back, and all except the two new casesarenegative.

At a media conference, he saidthat shows "we're not dealing with an outbreak that is more broadly based."

About 150 people are still waiting for their test results.

Timeline of outbreak

CBC News reported last Tuesday that two people who didn't have COVID-19when they went into St. Clare'sbecame sick with the virus that causes it.

On Feb. 10,an Eastern Health employee atSt. Clare's learned they were positive while at work. That person had worked while waiting for the COVID-19 test result. That didn't break any rules or regulations they had beentoldby the health authoritythat the current policy meant theywould continue to work their scheduled shifts at the hospital after getting swabbed for the virus.

It's still not clear how people at St. Clare's initially became infected with the virus, saidDr. Natalie Bridger, Eastern Health's clinical chief of infection prevention and control.

She said an investigation is trying to find links between cases, and possible breaches. But it is possible that they might not ever find a source, she added.

Diamond said the hospital is still safe for workers and patients.

"We've not found this to be anything other than an outbreak on one unit," he said.

Monday's news conference follows another from last Friday, when Eastern Health addressed numerous questions that had gone unanswered for days about St. Clare's.

Health Minister John Haggielast Wednesdayinsisted there was"no outbreak" at St. Clare's and that the situation hadbeen "contained."

On Friday, when Eastern Health confirmed more positive cases from the ward in question, Haggiesaid that situation hadnow changed, and that the information hehad hadwhen he made the originalcomments had also changed.

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