COVID-19 healthcare worker outbreak in Special Care Nursery
April 6, 2020 – We want to let the community know that two healthcare workers in our Special Care Nursery have tested positive for COVID-19. A third person who works with the unit has also tested positive, but this individual does not provide patient care. All healthcare workers are experiencing very mild symptoms.
We are working closely with Hamilton Public Health and are monitoring all babies and mothers who had direct contact with the healthcare workers. The healthcare workers had direct contact, while wearing a mask, with a very small number of babies, and all parents of those babies have been directly contacted.
We understand this news is very upsetting, particularly for expectant mothers who want to have their baby at St. Joe’s, but we have prepared for this possibility and implemented even stronger infection protection protocols. Any new infants to the unit are being admitted to an unaffected area.
Working closely with Pubic Health, the Women’s and Infants program continues to welcome new moms without any interruption of service.
Please know that caring for the health of your baby is our priority and commitment.