N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Moncton Hospital plans second COVID unit for 1st time as outbreaks grow
CBC
COVID-19 outbreaks at the Moncton Hospital have prompted health officials to plan the creation of a second unit dedicated to COVID patients for the first time since the start of the pandemic, according to a doctor.
The outbreaks in four units have progressed rapidly in recent days, said Dr. Marie-Ève Blanchard, who works at the hospital.
"If you look at last Monday, we had three patients in our COVID-19 unit with three intensive care patients, so six in total," she said in French during an interview Monday with La matinale.
"By the end of the week, we had reached 26 patients, five employees, who had contracted COVID-19 because of this whole series of outbreaks."
The COVID-19 unit has been expanded to handle 30 patients, and currently has 29 patients.
"This is the most patients we have ever had in our COVID-19 unit since the start of the pandemic."
There are also three intensive care patients for a total of 32 COVID-19 patients at the hospital.
"Our team is actively working" to make room for a second unit dedicated to patients with COVID-19, she said.
There's also a risk of having to transfer patients to other hospitals, such as the Dr-Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre. "That's what we fear," said Blanchard.
"We try to manage what we have as much as possible, but yes, it's like they have done in other provinces. Sometimes, at some point when you have no more intensive care beds, we did it in New Brunswick too. We will try to send patients to the neighbouring hospital if they have beds available."
Horizon Health Network officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Nov. 22, an outbreak was declared on the stroke and family medicine unit, Unit 4600, followed by outbreaks on the rehabilitation unit, Unit 4400, and the family practice and geriatric unit, Unit 5100 on Nov. 23.
On Nov. 24, an outbreak was declared on the family medicine and palliative care unit, Unit 3600.
The situation could lead to the postponement of non-urgent care, said Blanchard.
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