Hospitals in Burlington and St. Catharines declare outbreaks of COVID-19

Hospitals in Burlington and Niagara have declared outbreaks of COVID-19.

Joseph Brant Hospital says two health-care workers and three patients have tested positive for COVID-19. And Niagara Health says a health-care worker at its St. Catharines hospital site has tested positive.

Niagara Health has temporarily closed the in-patient unit to admissions and transfers after the worker tested positive. It's also tracing patients, staff and physicians who came into contact with the worker.

"Our infection prevention and control team has taken immediate action to protect our staff, physicians and patients," Niagara Health said in a statement Saturday.

At Joseph Brant, the outbreaks are at 3 North 700 and 6 North, the hospital said in a statement Sunday.

"We are taking this situation very seriously," it said. "All appropriate precautions were immediately taken … the number of positive tests we are currently aware of is two health-care workers and three patients."

The hospital and Halton Public Health are monitoring patients, staff and doctors who came into contact with the worker who's tested positive. The symptomatic health-care workers are isolating at home, the statement said, and patients on the unit are in quarantine. If they're released before the end of 14 days, they'll quarantine at home.

"We have taken a number of immediate safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of our patients, staff and physicians," the hospital said. "This includes closing the units to any new admissions, enhanced cleaning on the unit, and increased education on the use of personal protective equipment, washing of hands and physical distancing."

Halton has 311 cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday morning, including 57 confirmed and seven probable cases in Burlington. A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Park Avenue Manor on April 3.

Niagara has 234 cases and 10 deaths. Of those cases, 11.5 per cent are health-care workers.

Hamilton has 232 cases as of Saturday, which includes eight deaths. Brant/Brantford reported 63 cases Sunday, and Haldimand-Norfolk has 131 cases and 13 deaths. All of Haldimand-Norfolk's reported deaths are at Anson Place Care Centre in Hagersville.