COVID Outbreak declared at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital 1 South Inpatient Unit

(Strathroy, ON) – The Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital (SMGH) is dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak on the 1 South Inpatient Unit.  The Middlesex-London Health Unit declared the outbreak on August 28, 2022 after a weeklong suspect outbreak. Unit-level outbreaks for COVID-19 are declared, in partnership with the Middlesex-London Health Unit, as soon as there are two or more confirmed positive cases among patients or staff that could have possibly been acquired on an inpatient unit. After 10 days with no new cases, the unit level outbreak is declared over in consultation with the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU).

The patients and their families have been contacted. The hospital will work closely with MLHU to ensure the appropriate testing and precautions.

Admissions to the unit will be limited until further notice.  In addition, visitors and essential care providers are no longer permitted to visit the unit with the exceptions being provided for palliative care patients.   Care teams will regularly update families/caregivers and make them aware of opportunities for virtual connections.

The safety of everyone at our hospital sites is our top priority.  MHA’s Infection Prevention and Control Specialist, Occupational Health Specialist and leadership team are monitoring the situation closely.  We continue to take steps to ensure the safety of our patients, staff and physicians. 

Precautions remain in place across both our hospital sites and on all units to identify potential outbreaks early and have enhanced safety measures within our hospital sites including:

  • Limiting 1 South (Medicine) inpatient unit to new admissions
  • Suspending patient visiting, with exceptions being provided for palliative care patients.
  • Enhanced screening and testing of patients and staff
  • Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the unit.
  • As an additional precaution, we will implement a new limit of one (1) visitor per day at SMGH on 2 South and our Four Counties Health Services site.

More information and updates will be shared as they become available.   

Please continue to visit covid-19.ontario.ca or MHA COVID Updates for regular updates on COVID-19.

-30-

For local inquiries, please contact:
Stacey Griffin
Middlesex Hospital Alliance
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO Coordinator Board Affairs
Stacey.Griffin@mha.tvh.ca
(519) 245-5295 ext: 5593
www.mhalliance.on.ca  

About MHA:
The Middlesex Hospital Alliance (MHA) is comprised of two fully accredited partner sites: Four Counties Health Services and Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital. A progressive, team-oriented and technologically adept organization of excellence, the MHA is creating a more integrated and seamless approach to treatment by embracing and seeking out partnerships, through collaboration and investing in people. This coordinated approach helps to ensure that a high level of service is provided, while reducing costs and continually enhancing quality.  
Scroll to Top