COVID-19 outbreak on 1F now over

Grand River Hospital, in consultation with Region of Waterloo Public Health, has declared the COVID-19 outbreak on 1F, adult inpatient mental health, over.

Thank you to our staff for their hard work in caring for patients, supporting each other and diligently implementing increased COVID protocols to bring an end to this outbreak.

As a reminder to all, in outbreak situations, the hospital immediately implements the following enhanced protocols:

• Increased surveillance to identify potential cases and follow-up investigations;
• More frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces;
• Investigating opportunities to cohort COVID positive patients together and COVID resolved staff with patients who tested negative for COVID; to support continued operations and follow IPAC principals;
• Education of patients and families about COVID-19 hospital protocols;
• Continually reviewing our practices and implementing new measures as required, as part of our ongoing risk assessments;
• Temporarily suspending in person care partner visits to the unit and working to enhance virtual and phone connections for our patients and families.