INFORMATION BULLETIN
KINGSTON, Ont. – Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) confirmed Friday that a second staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 as a result of community-acquired transmission.
Both Kingston General Hospital staff members are at home recovering in self-isolation. Four other staff members are off work on self-quarantine with careful monitoring as higher risk contacts and five more are on work isolation as a precaution.
Evidence indicates that this was not a work-acquired infection.
Due to rigorous universal masking, physical distancing and infection control practices at KHSC, hospital-related exposures to the positive staff members remain low risk.
“We have stringent COVID-19 protocols in place for all of our employees and assure the public that our facilities remain safe places to receive care,” says Dr. Gerald Evans, medical director of infection prevention and control. “As the largest employer in the city and given the recent rise in community prevalence, we are not surprised about positive cases emerging among staff members. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and respond swiftly.”
Our Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness and Infection Prevention and Control teams have been working with Public Health to conduct the appropriate contact tracing related to the positive cases, which is almost complete.
“We are in regular contact with all impacted staff members and wish those who tested positive quick recoveries,” says Sandra Carlton, joint vice-president and chief human resources officer. “At KHSC, we’re proud of the very strong teamwork that makes keeping patients and staff safe our top priority at all times.”
Media Contact:
Kristen Lipscombe
Strategic Communications Advisor
Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Cell: 613-583-1377
Office: 613-549-6666, ext. 6875
Email: @email
