A potential for outbreak has the Saskatchewan Health Authority investigating contacts linked to an inpatient, who tested positive for COVID-19, at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.

Currently the patient is the only COVID-19 case in the facility and there is no evidence of transmission within the hospital, but an outbreak has been declared by Medical Health Officer Dr. Khami Chokani, due to the duration of the patient’s stay and health officials not knowing they were positive for the novel coronavirus.

The patient was admitted on April 21st and initially was screened and tested negative for COVID-19 before being transported to Victoria Hospital. On Thursday an additional test was performed, and this time the patient tested positive. Due to an outbreak being declared, Infection Prevention Control was notified and service changes are being made to adapt to the situation and staffing levels have decreased due to self-isolation guidelines. The Emergency Department remains open at this time and patients who require emergency care should seek service as usual. One patient has been transferred from ICU to Saskatoon.