COVID-19 outbreak declared over at Palmerston hospital

PALMERSTON – A COVID-19 outbreak at the Palmerston and District Hospital has ended.

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) declared the outbreak over on Feb. 18.

First declared on Jan. 28, the outbreak affected six patients, including five deaths, and five staff members over three weeks.

There are currently 11 other facility outbreaks in the WDGPH region, including three in Wellington County:

• Caressant Care Fergus, one staff case, declared on Feb. 6;
• Eden House Care Facility in Guelph-Eramosa, one staff case, declared on Feb. 6; and
• Caressant Care Arthur (long-term care), 56 residents (18 deaths) and 63 staff, declared on Dec. 26.

Public health defines an outbreak as one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 within a facility (long-term care home, retirement home or hospital).

An outbreak is declared over 14 days after symptoms began in the most recent case and when no other cases are suspected.

For more information on outbreaks visit the WDGPH website.