January 4, 2022 – St. John’s, NL: Eastern Health advises the public that all outpatient appointments at the Dr. L.A. Miller Centre have been cancelled, after five patients on a unit tested positive for COVID-19. Clients will be contacted by their health-care team regarding their next appointment.
Following the first positive case reported on December 29, 2021, testing and investigation have been ongoing, resulting in the identification of an additional number of positive cases on the unit. Eastern Health is awaiting some test results and has moved quickly to minimize any potential spread of the COVID-19 virus at this site.
Testing of affected patients is complete. All COVID-19 positive patients on the unit were close contacts of each other, and are isolating and following infection control procedures. All other patients on the unit have tested negative for COVID-19 to date. The unit is currently closed to new admissions and to visitors, which is in line with current expanded visitor restrictions at all Eastern Health facilities.
Staff considered direct contacts of the positive patients have also been tested. A small number of staff at the site have tested positive to date though it is not confirmed that these positive cases are connected to the patients on the unit. Contact tracing is underway and the movement of staff is limited in and out of the unit.
“We understand that this is a stressful time for patients and for staff members on this unit at the Dr. L. A. Miller Centre,” said Dr. Natalie Bridger, Clinical Chief for Infection Prevention and Control at Eastern Health. “Stringent infection control and prevention measures have been put in place. We would like to provide assurance that we are managing the situation according to best practice and are taking measure to limit the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.”
Eastern Health continues to be diligent in our management of this pandemic and follows national and provincial guidance as cases are identified at our facilities. We thank the public for their support and remind them of the importance of continuing to follow public health guidance to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their communities.
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About Eastern Health
Eastern Health is the largest, integrated health authority in Newfoundland and Labrador employing approximately 13,000 dedicated employees, over 700 medical staff, and is supported by approximately 2,000 volunteers, including members of numerous auxiliaries and fundraising foundations. With an annual budget of approximately $1.6 billion, the authority offers the full continuum of health and community services including public health, long-term care, community services, hospital care and unique provincial programs and services. Serving a population of over 300,000, Eastern Health’s geographic boundaries extend west from St. John’s to Port Blandford including all communities on the Avalon, Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas.