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COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Two new cases reported in COVID-19 outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital

Feb 1, 2021 | 4:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — The COVID-19 outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital has seen steady growth from Sunday (Jan. 31), with two additional cases reported Monday for a total of 81 positives.

Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton says 30 patients and 51 staff have now tested positive for COVID-19, and the death toll remains at one patient.

“I definitely commend all my colleagues working at RIH for working through the stress, rising to the occasion, and making sure that our hospital still operates in an effective and safe way.”

The outbreak is contained within two units — 6 South and 6 North — and the health authority says the hospital is still safe for the public to attend for emergencies or appointments.

GEMSTONE UPDATE:

A separate COVID-19 outbreak at the Gemstone Care Centre in Brocklehurst remains stable. Seven staff, and 16 residents tested positive for 23 total cases and two deaths are associated to this outbreak.

“At Gemstone we’re watching and waiting,” says Dr. Fenton. “We haven’t had a new case as part of the outbreak in a number of days so at this point we’re hoping to hold it steady until we can declare it over.”

To declare an outbreak over, the centre would need to have no new cases associated to the outbreak for 28 days, which makes up two virus incubation periods.