The first two cases of COVID-19 transmission within Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) were reported by Interior Health on Monday, Sept. 13.
Outbreaks are declared when there is evidence that transmission of COVID-19 most likely occurred within a healthcare setting.
This is the first time the Trail-based hospital has appeared on the outbreak list since pandemic tracking began 18 months ago.
The outbreak involves two patients in the hospital’s inpatient psychiatry unit at Daly Pavilion. Interior Health says the cases are restricted to this unit.
While Interior Health cannot speak to individual cases, the health authority says the small number of patients considered potentially exposed have been tested and isolated.
Infection control measures are in place. Interior Health told the Times that a team of infection control and communicable disease specialists, along with KBRH clinic and support staff and leaders, have met and have contained the outbreak.
COVID-19 precautions remain in place at KBRH, including the ongoing mask requirement for all healthcare facilities. Interior Health says the hospital remains safe to attend for appointments and emergency care.
These two confirmed KBRH infections are included in 542 new cases the health authority reported on Monday. Another 153 new cases were confirmed in Interior Health on Tuesday, bringing the total active COVID cases in the region to 1,583 by press time.
In addition to the hospital in Trail, Interior Health still has two residents living in Rose Wood Village listed on the facility outbreaks list. These first two cases confirmed in a Trail care home since January 2020, were first reported Aug. 30.
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, the Trail Local Health Area (LHA) has confirmed 240 cases to date.
As of press time, 84 per cent of the eligible population in the Trail LHA have had at least one vaccine dose for COVID-19.
As of press time on Sept. 15, 86 per cent (3.99M) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 78.5 per cent (3.64M) have received their second dose.
Read more: 46 cases of COVID-19 Mu variant detected in B.C.
Read more: Restrictions eased for Interior Health businesses following vax cards
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