A hospital in Calgary was working Monday to contain COVID-19 outbreaks that were identified on the weekend in two separate areas that don’t appear to be connected to each other.
Alberta Health Services said 14 patients and four staff members have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the Foothills Medical Centre. One patient has died.
The outbreaks are in two cardiac care units and one general medicine unit.
Dr. Nick Etches, lead medical officer for the Calgary zone, said work was underway to determine how the infection came into the hospital.
“We are managing this incredibly aggressively and chasing down every single lead,” he said.
“But right now, this is a safe place for people and their loved ones to come and receive care.”
The health agency said 57 staff who work in the cardiac and general medicine units were in isolation. Patients on the affected units may not receive visitors except in end-of-life situations.
“Enhanced screening measures among patients and unit staff have been implemented, and the hospital has increased infection prevention and control measures on the units to further ensure the continued safety of all patients and staff,” AHS said in a release.
In Edmonton, an outbreak at a University of Alberta student residence put varsity athletics on hold for two weeks.
Five members of the men’s residence of St. Joseph’s College tested positive for the novel coronavirus. They and 14 other residents of the building were isolating.
The website for the residence said, along with spiritual direction and daily mass, it is also a leader of the university’s intramural sports program.
Because some athletes live in the residence, the virus could have spread to four teams in three sports, said Andrew Sharman, the university’s vice president of facilities and operations.
“Until we can confirm the contact tracing, we just don’t want this to explode ahead of actually being able to pin it down,” Sharman said.
“It may be that we’ve already caught it, but we’d rather be preventative.”
All other residences at the University of Alberta are considered safe and at low risk of exposure.
Alberta’s last COVID-19 update on Thursday reported 1,424 active cases and 255 deaths.
— By Lauren Krugel in Calgary
© The Canadian Press