KITCHENER -- A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared on the sixth floor chest unit of St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener.
According to a Sunday news release, five patients and two staff have tested positive for coronavirus while others are undergoing testing.
Anyone who needes to be tested as a result of this outbreak will be notified, according to officials.
All three of Waterloo Region's hospitals are now currently managing outbreaks on their campuses.
"With the outbreaks now at three hospitals, this will reduce our capacity to provide services more generally," said Lee Fairclough, St' Mary's General Hospital president. "We'll do all we can to reduce any further spreads with the outbreaks, but we need your help to help us reduce spread in the community that could impact our staff.
"I'm increasingly concerned about the level of spread we're seeing in the region. I'm increasingly concerned about the level of community-acquired cases we've been seeing among our staff at the hospital."
The unit is closed to new admissions except for COVID-positive or COVID-resolved cases.
Care partner visits are temporarily suspended except for those deemed essential. Virtual and telephone visits are currently being set up for patients and their families.
