By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland Hills Hospital announced Friday afternoon that the COVID-19 outbreak that had been confirmed Tuesday on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (1A) is over.
Visiting guidelines have resumed for all, the announcement added, except for patients in isolation for a COVID-19 exposure or suspected exposure.
It also reminded the community that masking continues at NHH and its Community Mental Health offices, with visitors able to access free masks upon entry. The masks may be worn over top of a personal cloth mask if one wishes, and – as the masks must remain on at all times – no eating or drinking is allowed by visitors in patient rooms.
The infection-control and -prevention measures announced Tuesday continue – daily self-screening for symptoms by staff, mandatory use of appropriate PPE in clinical and patient-care areas, cohorting of patients considered high-risk contacts, mandatory vaccination requirements for staff, strict adherence to thorough hand-hygiene practices, enhanced environmental cleaning and proactive communication.
Details on the hospital's visiting guidelines and expectations (including virtual visiting options), as well as answers to Frequently Asked Questions, are available on the NHH website.
Updates on the hospital's COVID status will continue to be communicated on the website, as well as on related social-media channels.
Community outbreak information can be found on the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit's website at its Respiratory Diseases Dashboard feature, which offers a high-level assessment of local respiratory viruses and was recently updated.
