Trillium Health Partners' (THP) priority is the safety of our patients, people and the community. As we continue to see community spread of COVID-19, THP remains vigilant and is actively preparing measures to respond to additional cases and outbreaks.

What is a COVID-19 outbreak?

In accordance with the Ministry of Health, a COVID-19 outbreak is declared when two or more patients within a specified area (unit/floor/service) with confirmed COVID-19 have been identified within a 7 day period, where there is reasonable concern that both cases were acquired within the specified area. Examples of reasonably having acquired an infection in hospital include: no known source of infection outside of the hospital or having been admitted for 5 or more days before symptom onset (based on the median incubation period of the virus).

As part of our pandemic response and in alignment with the hospital's infection prevention and control guidelines, we have implemented a number of initiatives. These include:

• Daily assessment of capacity and patient flow to ensure the safe placement of patients throughout the hospital.
• Ensuring appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff in all patient care areas and regular auditing, including hand hygiene compliance.
• Recommending that patients wear medical masks, when possible.
• Providing COVID-19 testing for symptomatic patients.
• Mandatory vaccination policy for THP staff and encouraging booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to staff, professional staff, learners and volunteers.
• Putting suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients on Droplet/Contact Plus Precautions, which requires staff and visitors to wear a fitted N95 mask, gloves, gown and eye protection when in the patient’s room.
• Continuing health care worker education and demonstrations for appropriately using personal protective equipment during this pandemic.

When an outbreak is declared on a unit, additional measures are put into place. These may include:

• Putting existing unit patients on Droplet/Contact Plus Precautions, which requires staff and visitors to wear a fitted N95 mask, gloves, gown and eye protection when in the patient’s room.
• Contact tracing for possible exposure.
• Enhanced cleaning on the unit, and increased education on the use of personal protective equipment, cleaning of hands and additional IPAC measures.
• Increased hand hygiene and safety audits.
• Permitting patients and staff to eat or drink in designated areas only.
• Restrictions on visitors to outbreak units.