Montfort Hospital the latest Ottawa institution to declare COVID-19 outbreak

An outbreak of COVID-19 has been identified at Montfort Hospital, and officials at the facility are doing all they can to limit the spread.

Ottawa Public Health confirmed Monday that one of the hospital's ancillary staff members had tested positive for the coronavirus, but the hospital added that the outbreak involves “a few staff members.” 

The hospital does not know how where the infection started, but all involved staff have all been placed in self-isolation. Additional precautionary measures have also been put in place within the department.

Colleagues of those staff members who may have been exposed to COVID-19 have been contacted and are expected to be taking appropriate measures to limit the spread.

Montfort says all of its staff members who have contact with patients are reminded to diligently follow the instructions for wearing masks, hand hygiene and physical distancing. Any staff member who shows symptoms of the coronavirus must immediately leave the hospital and be tested, in accordance with its policy. 

Montfort Hospital is carefully monitoring patients for symptoms of COVID-19. Any patient who shows symptoms is immediately placed in isolation and tested. 

The hospital's no visitor policy is still in effect.

OPH says COVID-19 has now been found in seven local institutions, including The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, the Ottawa Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, and four local retirement or long-term care homes.