Misericordia Community Hospital now under full facility outbreak

EDMONTON – The Misericordia Community Hospital is now under a full facility outbreak due to ongoing transmission of COVID-19.

No patients will be admitted to the hospital and day procedures and visits will be postponed or rescheduled at another Edmonton hospital.

In order to reduce the risk of further transmission of COVID-19, all services at the Misericordia are temporarily closed to incoming patients. Patients are being contacted and will be cared for and/or rescheduled at another Edmonton hospital. We appreciate your patience at this time.

The full facility outbreak extends to all adult and child services including the Emergency Department. Patients should not visit the Misericordia, and should instead visit one of the other hospitals within the Edmonton Zone or call 911 if needed.

This step is a necessary extension of the progressive outbreak restrictions put in place on July 6, with those restrictions now encompassing all patient services at the Misericordia.

Patients within the hospital will continue to receive the treatment, care and support they need. In order to keep everyone safe visitors will be restricted to end-of-life situations only.

Arrangements will be made for labouring mothers to deliver at Grey Nuns Community Hospital.

Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health continue to aggressively manage this outbreak.

“Activating the full facility outbreak is necessary at this time to protect patients, staff and physicians. We acknowledge the challenges these additional restrictions create for patients, families, staff and physicians,” said Dr. David Zygun, Medical Director, AHS Edmonton Zone.

Ongoing transmission means that this is a necessary step to protect patients, staff and physicians and to ensure that the outbreak can be managed as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

“The safety of our patients, staff, physicians and visitors remains our number one priority,” said Dr. Owen Heisler, Chief Medical Officer, Covenant Health. “Covenant Health, Alberta Health Services and our teams continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively, taking every possible step to respond with compassion to this challenging situation and to ensure a safe environment for care.”

As of this morning, there are 20 patients at the hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19 in relation to this outbreak. In addition, 15 staff members have tested positive. Admitted patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 are being treated on two units within the hospital.

Sadly, three patients linked to this outbreak have passed away. Our thoughts are with the family members and loved ones of all three patients at this difficult time.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

Covenant Health is one of Canada's largest Catholic healthcare organizations with over 15,000 physicians, employees and volunteers serving in 12 communities across Alberta. A major provider in Alberta's integrated health system, Covenant Health works with Alberta Health Services and community partners to positively influence the health of Albertans through a broad range of programs and services. For more information visit CovenantHealth.ca.