Fraser Health is reporting an outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
The health authority declared an outbreak at the Surrey hospital after evidence of transmission was found in a Medicine unit.
One patient and one staff member have tested positive for COVID-19. The outbreak is limited to one unit, which is temporarily closed to admissions.
Upon declaring the outbreak, Fraser Health says it immediately implemented enhanced infection prevention and control precautions, including enhanced cleaning, as well as contact tracing to protect the health of all staff, medical staff, and patients.
Fraser Health has notified all patients on the affected unit about the outbreak, and in addition, has informed the families of patients who are unable to share this information with their loved ones. Surrey Memorial Hospital is working with essential visitors to the affected unit on a case-by-case basis.
COVID-19 is spread by respiratory droplets when a person who is sick coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread when a healthy person touches an object or surface (e.g. a doorknob or a table) with the virus on it, and then touches their mouth, nose or eyes before washing their hands. Most people who get COVID-19 have only mild disease, but a few people can get very sick and may need to go to the hospital. The symptoms of COVID-19 may include fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell and/or diarrhea.
For more information about COVID-19, visit here.
