WATERLOO REGION — St. Mary’s General Hospital has declared COVID-19 outbreaks in two units after the disease was transmitted at least three times among patients or staff.

The hospital closed a unit on the third floor to new admissions after one patient infected another patient. A patient also infected a hospital employee on this floor.

A unit on the sixth floor remains open for admissions after one employee infected another employee, transmitting the disease in a common area not used for patient care.

The hospital found no evidence that staff on the sixth floor infected patients, or that patients infected staff. Employees will wear protective gear when caring for patients.

The hospital is undertaking additional cleaning and other safety measures.

“We have made this declaration out of an abundance of caution,” hospital president Lee Fairclough said in a statement. “We want to reassure everyone that the care at St. Mary’s continues to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The hospital explains that two patients shared a room in the third floor unit. It seems one infected the other despite testing negative for the disease.

The patient who tested negative was released at first but later tested positive when readmitted with worsening symptoms. Both patients are now being cared for in a unit with other COVID-infected patients. “We wish them the very best in their recovery,” Fairclough said.

Hospital staff who tested positive are currently self-isolating at home. They will not return to work unless cleared in two negative tests conducted within 24 hours.

By Thursday St. Mary’s recorded a total of 22 infected employees, among 136 health care workers then infected across Waterloo Region. This count swelled to 155 health care workers who tested positive by Friday.

This tally accounts for one in three COVID-19 cases across the region as the disease targets the elderly, the unwell, and the people who care for them.

“We wish staff a safe recovery and we are grateful for the commitment of our front-line health care workers through this pandemic,” Fairclough said.

St. Mary’s is not allowing visitors except in exceptional circumstances. It says it will enhance cleaning, screening, education, and investigations of disease clusters to determine how infections happen.

The outbreak on the sixth floor would be declared over April 28 if no one else tests positive during that period. The outbreak on the third floor would be declared over April 30 if no one else tests positive.

The hospital is reaching out to patients and family members connected to the affected units. Patients or families with questions can call St. Mary’s at 519-749-6578 ext. 6867.

Anyone discharged from the third floor unit from April 2 to April 17 will be contacted by Waterloo Region Public Health.

Ontario has seen COVID-19 outbreaks declared in more than 30 hospitals.

jouthit@therecord.com

Twitter: @OuthitRecord

jouthit@therecord.com

Twitter: @OuthitRecord