Today, Fraser Health is sharing the following information about COVID-19 outbreaks in our region:
Long term care:
Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak over at CareLife Fleetwood in Surrey. With the implementation of comprehensive strategies to prevent and respond to COVID-19 in care facilities, there are no longer any COVID-19 cases at this location.
Acute care:
Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Royal Columbian Hospital after evidence of transmission in a medicine unit.
Five patients at Royal Columbian Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 as part of this outbreak. The outbreak is limited to one unit, which is temporarily closed to admissions.
Upon declaring the outbreak, Fraser Health immediately implemented precautions, including enhanced cleaning as well as contact tracing to protect the health of all staff, medical staff, and patients.
The emergency department at Royal Columbian Hospital remains open and there has been no impact to any other areas of Royal Columbian Hospital.
Fraser Health has notified all patients on the affected unit about the outbreak, and in addition, have informed the families of patients who are unable to share this information.
Schools:
Fraser Health is working closely with the Surrey School District to manage COVID-19 exposures at Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Frank Hurt Secondary School, and M.B. Sanford Elementary School.
Individuals at each school have tested positive for a COVID-19 variant of concern. Only those staff and students who have been identified as close contacts need to be tested and have been contacted. The schools will remain open. Fraser Health is investigating these cases, and, to date, they appear to be linked to community transmissions.
As this is a variant that is new to our communities and more easily transmissible, Fraser Health is working to identify any further connected variant cases to ensure immediate isolation and case management to prevent further transmission.
The variant strain can transmit more quickly and easily but does not interfere with the effectiveness of vaccines, nor affect our ability to test for the virus.
It is critically important for people living in the Fraser Health region to get tested as soon as you have COVID-19-like symptoms, even mild ones. Please don’t wait, and book or drop by one of our collection centres which are operated in partnership with local Divisions of Family Practice. People living in the Fraser Health region can find information about test collection centres by visiting Fraser Health’s website.
To book a COVID-19 testing appointment, complete a COVID-19 test booking form.
For more information about COVID-19, please visit fraserhealth.ca/covid19.
For media inquiries, please contact:
media@fraserhealth.ca