Markham Stouffville Hospital declares COVID-19 outbreak in Markham site

FILE: Markham Stouffville Hospital in Markham Ontario main North end entrance (Photo By Disciplined, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) is the latest hospital to declare a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak after seven of its healthcare workers tested positive.

An article published by the York Region says that the hospital’s Plant Maintenance department in its Markham site declared an outbreak on Friday, May 15. The seven workers are currently in their respective homes.

According to the Ministry of Health, an out break declaration requires two ore more laboratory confirmed COID-19 cases within a specific area within 14 days. Both cases who are either a patient and/or a hospital worker should have acquired it in the health establishment.

MSH assured that its Infection Prevention and Control department had taken the needed measures immediately upon learning of the development. These include deep cleaning of the department and re-training of different infection prevention measures.

It can be remembered that the hospital’s Uxbridge site has also declared a COVID-19 outbreak on May 1 after five patients on the inpatient unit tested positive.

Aside from MSH, other hospital in the region like the Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket and Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill earlier declared outbreaks on April 28 and May 13 respectively.