Seven dead in Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus’ biggest COVID-19 outbreak yet

The Ottawa Hospital’s Civic Campus is managing its biggest ongoing COVID-19 outbreak yet — an outbreak that has resulted in seven deaths.

According to a statement from the hospital, the outbreak involved 42 cases in total — 27 patients and 15 staff members — over the course of the last four weeks.

The outbreak started on February 19.

The last identified case related to the outbreak was on March 11.

This is the Civic Campus’ seventh reported COVID-19 outbreak since April 3.

“Through infection control measures, we have been able to manage the outbreak, and currently have four cases on the unit related to this outbreak,” spokesperson Honorata Bittner said in a statement. “There is no evidence to suggest that this is an outbreak caused by a variant of concern.”

Bittner said the hospital is working closely with staff, patients and family to keep everyone informed.

“We are working with clinical teams to adjust staffing levels on the unit as needed,” Bittner explained. “The hospital has strict infection prevention and control protocols in place to keep everyone safe. We continue to monitor patients for symptoms of COVID-19.”

Any patient who develops symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 will be isolated and tested.

Staff who may have been exposed have been contacted and informed of appropriate measures to take.