One of the three COVID-19 outbreaks affecting Richmond Hospital is now over.
Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed to the Richmond News that outbreak restrictions in the 3 South medical unit were lifted on Dec. 20. An outbreak was declared at the unit on Dec. 7.
The outbreak was one of three to hit the hospital this month.
The two other outbreaks affecting the hospital, in the 4 North Acute Care for the Elderly unit and 6 North medical unit, continue.
VCH announced outbreaks in those units on Dec. 3 and Dec. 7, respectively.
The units were closed to new admissions and transfers, and all visitations except end-of-life compassionate visits, until the outbreaks are declared over.
When asked how many staff and/or patients were affected by the outbreaks, VCH told the News it does not disclose specific case numbers.
“The circumstances of each outbreak – including the number of cases – can evolve rapidly, and it causes unnecessary stress to the families of residents and patients to have information publicly misreported,” VCH said in a statement.
“To avoid causing unnecessary concern, and out of respect for the privacy of residents and their families, we do not disclose specific case numbers for active outbreaks.”
As a result of the outbreaks in the two medical units, Richmond Hospital reduced its surgeries, with priority given to urgent surgeries and day surgeries.
The hospital remains open for emergency and urgent care.
