KENORA – A COVID-19 outbreak at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora has grown to include 10 patients, a day after it was first announced.
All non-essential and elective outpatient services will be suspended for 14 days as a result, effective immediately, the hospital announced Sunday.
Essential services such as dialysis and chemotherapy will continue, and the Morningstar Centre and Community Mental Health & Addiction programs, physically external to the hospital will remain open.
The hospital implemented visitor restrictions Saturday when it first announced the outbreak with two initial cases. There are limited exceptions for end of life patients and other extenuating circumstances.
A COVID-19 isolation ward has been established in the hospital, and the organization is working with the Northwestern Health Unit to determine the cause of the outbreak and trace contacts.
“Significant” staff testing is occurring on-site, while testing of patients was underway Saturday.
The hospital will contact anyone scheduled for appointments to advise of cancellations, it said. It also pledged to explore options for virtual service delivery where possible.
