ATHABASCA – A COVID-19 outbreak involving two individuals associated with the Athabasca Healthcare Centre was declared Jan. 31, and remains under review of the medical officer of health, infection prevention and control specialists, AHS Workplace Health and Safety, and local site leadership.
A statement provided by Alberta Health Services says contact tracing for anyone potentially exposed to those individuals is also ongoing. There is also no increased risk to patients in the hospital as anyone with symptoms or who has tested positive for COVID-19 is isolated and treated in designated rooms.
“The Athabasca Healthcare Centre remains a safe place to receive care,” read the statement.
“Patients within the hospital will continue to receive the treatment, care and support they need. To keep everyone safe, only designated family/support persons will be allowed to visit in end-of-life or other extenuating circumstances.”
AHS encourages everyone else to continue to meet with their loved ones virtually.
Those who are allowed in are asked to follow all measures in place to minimize the risk of transmission outside the facility.
"All AHS facilities, including the Athabasca Healthcare Centre, follow rigorous infection prevention and control standards. All healthcare workers are asked to self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure risk using a screening tool before reporting to a site for their shift, and our frontline teams are practicing continuous masking and wearing eye protection while at work.”
The Athabasca Healthcare Centre is one of five acute care facilities in the North Zone under outbreak status. Other nearby facilities include William J. Cadzow Healthcare Centre in Lac La Biche and the Mayerthorpe Healthcare Centre. There are 20 across the province.
