UPDATE: STEPS TAKEN BY WINDSOR REGIONAL HOSPITAL AFTER NURSING STUDENTS TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

Windsor Regional Hospital is providing the following update regarding the impact of several nursing students who tested positive for COVID-19 and have recently been on student placement at the hospital:

• They have recommended testing for a total of 28 individuals – 15 staff members and 13 patients – who were identified as having direct contact with the students who tested positive for COVID-19.
• Although testing is not mandatory for staff because they do not meet the criteria for high risk exposure (i.e. 15 minutes of more within two metres of each other without Personal Protective Equipment), all staff who have been contacted have consented to testing.
• In addition, they are providing tests for any other staff, inpatients or visitors who believe they may have come into contact with individuals on the units where these specific student placements occurred.

As noted on Sunday, the hospital was notified that four University of Windsor nursing students who tested positive for COVID-19 were doing their clinical placements at the hospital. Three were on the 7West and 6East units at the Ouellette campus on Nov. 3 and Nov. 6, and a fourth was on the 8North unit at Met Campus on Nov. 3.

The hospital was subsequently notified that a St. Clair College nursing student who tested positive for COVID-19 was at the 6North unit at Met Campus for a student placement on Nov. 2nd

In all cases, the initial positive contact with COVID-19 came from the community, not from inside the hospital.

In addition to the actions noted above regarding identifying and contacting staff and patients who had direct contact with these students, WRH has temporarily stopped any movement of patients from these floors, except in cases where they are to be discharged home.

ALL nursing student placements at WRH have stopped until further notice. Also, ALL clinical student placements (with the exception of Schulich clinical placements) on 7W and 6E at Ouellette and 6N and 8N at Met have been halted until this issue is cleared.

The hospital has completed an immediate deep clean of the impacted units.

Visitation to these floors (7W, 6E Ouellette and 6N, 8N at Met) remains suspended until the issue is cleared (with exceptions for end of life and palliative patients).

They will continue to be vigilant as the community spread rises and the risks of bringing COVID19 into the hospital increases.

Windsor Regional Hospital will continue to collaborate with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, the University of Windsor and St. Clair College and will keep the community informed during this situation