Fraser Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Ridge Meadows Hospital; provides information about COVID-19 school exposures

Acute:

Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Ridge Meadows Hospital after evidence of transmission in a medicine unit.

Five patients at Ridge Meadows 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 Ridge Meadows Hospital remains open and there has been no impact to any other areas of Ridge Meadows Hospital.

Fraser Health has notified all patients on the affected unit about the outbreak, and in addition, is informing families of patients who are unable to share this information is underway.

Schools:

Fraser Health is working closely with the Abbotsford School District to manage COVID-19 exposures at Centennial Park Elementary School. In addition, Fraser Health is working closely with Bibleway Christian Academy, an independent school in Surrey, to manage an exposure of COVID-19 at that location.

Beginning today, the Abbotsford School District has advised Fraser Health that they will functionally close Centennial Park Elementary for the duration of their spring break due to operational considerations presented by the exposure. Bibleway Christian Academy has advised Fraser Health that they will voluntarily close until March 29th.

In a school environment, if a student or teacher receives a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result, Fraser Health Public Health follows a rigorous protocol:

• Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with in order to advise for self-monitoring or isolation.
• Public Health staff works closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact management process to maintain close communication with the school community.

For more information about COVID-19 school exposures in the Fraser Health region, please visit fraserhealth.ca/schoolexposures.

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.