Eastern Health confirms that up to 70 people may have come into contact with a patient who recently tested positive for COVID-19.

The health authority says the patient visited the Health Sciences emergency room three times between Sunday, March 28th and Wednesday, March 31st.

Contact tracing is underway. Eastern Health says fewer than 20 staff are self-isolating, and half of those staff members have received negative COVID test results.

Over 50 other people, including patients and close contacts have been identified and are being contacted to schedule COVID testing.

The health authority will not publicly discuss any further specifics regarding an individual patient case, however the Department of Health confirms that the case was previously reported through the province’s public advisories.

You can read the full statement on the matter from Eastern Health below:

Eastern Health can confirm that a patient who visited the Health Sciences Centre Emergency Department three times between Sunday, March 28 and Wednesday, March 31 tested positive for COVID-19. Due to the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA), Eastern Health is unable to publicly discuss any specifics regarding an individual patient case.

Contact-tracing by Occupational Health, Public Health and Infection Prevention and Control is ongoing. Through the normal contact-tracing process, less than 20 staff are off work on self-isolation. We have received approximately half of staff test results, of which all are negative.

Over 50 other individuals (patients and close contacts) have been identified and are being contacted to schedule COVID-19 testing.

Eastern Health has a process in place for anyone entering emergency departments who is at risk of having COVID-19, whether arriving by ambulance or walking in. All patients are screened for COVID-19 with a questionnaire before entering an Eastern Health facility and are given a mask to wear. Patients and support persons are expected to wear the mask provided for the duration of their visit. If coming by ambulance, EMS notifies the Emergency Department (ED) that there is an ambulance en route with a patient who is suspect or COVID-19 positive. If a patient is unable to answer the questions themselves, a family member will be asked to provide the information and if that information cannot be obtained, the patient will be treated as a suspected COVID-19 case and will be isolated in the ER. Efforts will be made for any patients in the ED who fail the COVID-19 screening assessment to be placed in a private room, negative pressure room or other area away from the general waiting room for triage and appropriate care. Staff wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow protocols when interacting with the individual in order to keep themselves and other patients safe. There are enhanced cleaning protocols in all ERs and there are plexiglass barriers in between each seat in the Health Sciences Centre ER.

The health and safety of our patients, employees and physicians remains our top priority as we work through this unprecedented situation.