Pembroke Regional Hospital closes doors to visitors after outbreak declared

Visitors and essential caregivers/care partners for patients are not allowed on the third medical unit at the Pembroke Regional Hospital (PRH) until further notice after four patients tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

As a result, the hospital is putting in place additional safety measures, including restrictions in order to reduce further transmission.

The only exception will be circumstances such as end-of-life where visitors may be approved on a case-by-case basis if fully vaccinated, and able to wear all appropriate personal protective equipment. 

In addition, PRH is currently implementing enhanced testing and containment strategies to prevent further transmission among staff and patients.

“This outbreak is an important reminder that we all need to continue to do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” said Pierre Noel, president and chief executive officer. 

PRH continues to encourage all residents to do their part in order to help reduce the spread of the virus including getting vaccinated with all the doses you are eligible for, limiting close contacts, wearing a mask in indoor public spaces and staying home if you are sick.

This is not the first time that PRH has been forced to close its doors to visitors since COVID first appeared in the Ottawa Valley. Staff and patients at the city's only hospital were hopeful the December 31, 2021 closure would mark the end of two tumultuous years that forced the hospital to undertake several preventative measures to try and eliminate or contain the sometimes-deadly virus. That outbreak was lifted on January 11 of this year.