Image Credit: CFJC Today

By James Peters

COVID-19

RIH COVID-19 outbreak up to 92 cases, but has not spread beyond sixth floor: Interior Health

Feb 4, 2021 | 2:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health (IH) says the COVID-19 outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops has grown, but there is no evidence it has spread beyond the two wards where it has been found.

In a briefing Thursday (Feb. 4), IH Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Albert de Villiers told reporters the outbreak was now listed at 92 cases — 32 patients and 60 staff. Fifty-eight cases remain active and there has been one death associated with the outbreak.

While RIH employees have reported to CFJC Today that the outbreak is now on the fifth floor, de Villiers said it is still contained to 6 South — the surgical unit where it began — and 6 North — the designated COVID-19 unit.

Responding to speculation that the outbreak is larger than reported, IH stood steadfast with its total of 92 cases.

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“It’s possible that we may have some further involvement — and it may be that it’s increased testing, said Karen Bloemink, interim vice-president of pandemic response for IH. “I am aware that we are doing quite broad testing through the hospital so that we can be as prepared as possible with the information we need for containment.”

Bloemink noted RIH is experiencing capacity challenges and that may result in some patients — including those in the intensive care unit — transferred to hospitals in neighbouring communities.

“We would be doing this anywhere where we had increased activity. We are paying very close attention to the occupancy within the hospital and that does include the intensive care unit,” said Bloemink. “Where we have challenges related to occupancy, so the hospital is becoming quite full or our critical care unit is becoming full, then we will be working with the other hospitals in the region to provide some relief.”

Meantime, an outbreak at the Westsyde Care Residence group home in Kamloops has grown to 21 cases – 10 residents and 11 staff.

The outbreak at Gemstone Care Centre at Brocklehurst has not grown. It remains at 25 cases.

In recent briefings, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has assured residents that health officials are keeping a very close eye on “variants of concern” that have arisen elsewhere in the world and found their way to B.C.

De Villiers says only one case of such a COVID-19 variant within IH.

“We can confirm that we have got this variant case of COVID that has been detected in Interior Health. It was one of the U.K. strain. Contact tracing is complete on this specific case. There is no indication of broader community spread. The case was exposed to the variant while travelling.”