FRASER Health on Friday declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Surrey Memorial Hospital after evidence of transmission in a medicine unit.

Five patients have tested positive for COVID-19 as part of this outbreak. The outbreak is limited to one unit, which is temporarily closed to admissions.

Upon declaring the outbreak, Fraser Health said it immediately implemented precautions, including enhanced cleaning as well as contact tracing to protect the health of all staff, medical staff, and patients.

The emergency department at Surrey Memorial Hospital remains open and there has been no impact to any other areas of the hospital.

Fraser Health has notified all patients on the affected unit about the outbreak, and in addition, families of patients who are unable to share this information have been informed.

Long-term care

Fraser Health has declared COVID-19 outbreaks at Czorny Alzheimer Centre in Surrey and Hawthorne Lodge in Port Coquitlam.

One resident and one staff member at Czorny Alzheimer Centre, and one resident and three staff members at Hawthorne Lodge have tested positive for COVID-19.

Czorny Alzheimer Centre is a long-term care facility that is owned and operated by Fraser Health. Hawthorne Lodge at the Hawthorne Seniors Care Community in Port Coquitlam is a long-term care facility that is owned and operated by the Port Coquitlam Senior Citizens’ Housing Society.

The residents and staff members are currently in self-isolation at their homes.

Enhanced control measures have been put in place at Czorny Alzheimer Centre. Fraser Health is working to identify anyone who may have been exposed and is taking steps to protect the health of all staff, residents and families.

Fraser Health has worked with Hawthorne Lodge to support the implementation of enhanced control measures. Fraser Health is also working with the site to identify anyone who may have been exposed, and is taking steps to protect the health of all staff, residents and families.

Fraser Health has proactively implemented the following measures at Czorny Alzheimer Centre and worked with Hawthorne Lodge to proactively implement the following measures:

• Staffing levels are being supported to maintain resident care.
• Social visits are restricted in the affected areas of the facility. Essential visits can continue.
• Staff and residents movement in the affected areas of the facility has been modified to minimize exposure to others.
• Cleaning and infection control measures have been further enhanced.
• Residents, families and staff are being notified.
• Twice a day screening of all staff and residents is taking place.
• Additional testing and screening is in place to support monitoring of disease control.

During this time, Fraser Health has additional presence at the sites to take any further actions required and support the facility. This includes dedicated people to address quality, answer questions from staff, residents and family, and provide active checks of symptoms with staff and residents.

Fraser Health said it has, in partnership with long term care and assisted living facilities, implemented comprehensive strategies to prevent and respond to COVID-19 in these facilities. In addition, Fraser Health has also deployed care staff and our rapid-response teams which include clinical nurse educators, infection prevention and control experts, screeners, and patient care quality officers supporting with communication to families and assessing symptoms at sites with outbreaks. Through these teams, sites are also connected with emergency supplies and support strategies around additional personnel if needed.