The Skeena
Prince Rupert continues to be hit hard by the pandemic. The latest blow: a COVID outbreak at the very place where people go to receive medical treatment.
“Northern Health Medical Health Officers have declared a COVID-19 outbreak on the Patient Care Unit at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital (PRRH), following lab-confirmed cases among patients on the unit,” reads a new notice from the health authority. “At the time of the outbreak declaration, testing has identified four patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.”
The news comes as Rupert health officers race to get every adult in the town vaccinated. Progress is happening but local cases have been among the highest in the Skeena.
Northern Health says it’s closely watching the latest outbreak at the hospital. “Monitoring and testing is underway to identify any additional cases,” it explains. “Enhanced outbreak control measures are in place.”
The hospital is also taking precautionary measures such as limiting movement of staff and patients and cleaning more frequently.
Northern Health “will only declare the outbreak over when they are confident that chains of transmission have been stopped.”
