An active COVID-19 outbreak at Eagle Ridge Hospital has turned tragic.
Fraser Health confirms with Tri-City News that two people have died linked to complications with the virus since the outbreak was declared for the Port Moody facility on June 21, 2021.
The number of detected infections has also gone up to 13 as of this publication (July 7).
Nine COVID-19 cases were initially confirmed when Fraser Health found evidence of transmission in a medicine/PATH unit (Patient Assistance and Transition to Home).
"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," said authority spokesperson Dixon Tam.
"The emergency department at Eagle Ridge Hospital remains open and there has been no impact to any other areas of the hospital."
Eagle Ridge remains one of four active outbreaks for COVID-19 across B.C, one of two in all of Fraser Health:
- Laurel Place at Surrey Memorial Hospital
- Rotary Manor, Dawson Creek (Northern Health)
- Royal Inland Hospital (Interior Health)
It's also the second outbreak in four months for the Port Moody hospital after one declared March 1 ended on April 9.
As of Wednesday, 78.2% (3,631,452) of of British Columbians 12 and older are vaccinated, with 38.2% (1,772,595) fully vaccinated with two doses.
To date, a total of 5,404,047 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the province.
Fraser Health currently has 177 active cases following 20 newly recorded infections since Tuesday (July 6).
- with a file from Nelson Bennett, Business In Vancouver
