For the third time since the pandemic reached the region in March 2020, a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in a specific section of University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC).
Northern Health says today (Jan. 5) that a single lab-confirmed case of the virus was found in a patient in the facility's Rehabilitation Unit.
The authority says, however, there's no evidence of further transmission and public health officials are continuing to monitor the situation with ongoing testing.
"NH public health recommends any recently-discharged clients self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, and to seek testing if symptoms develop," a release states this afternoon.
The rehab unit is now one of two current outbreaks listed for UHNBC, and the third to be reported since Dec. 3.
Its Internal Medicine Unit is still active as one patient has died among 21 COVID-19 cases found since Dec. 29, broken down to 10 patients and 11 staff members.
The UHNBC Family Medicine Unit's precautionary outbreak was declared over on Dec. 16 after being in place for 13 days.
Several tests came back positive among staff members, but Northern Health explained, at the time, they were all 'unrelated' and no new cases were found since the first discovered infections.
Twelve deaths have also been recorded at Jubilee Lodge in Prince George after an outbreak was declared on Dec. 12.
A total of 60 positive cases have been found at the long-term care facility involving 48 residents and 12 staff members.
As of this publication, Northern Health has reported 2,186 COVID-19 cases during the pandemic, per the BC Centre for Disease Control.
The BCCDC's latest data says the region has seen 30 virus-linked deaths, there are 16 people admitted into critical care among 19 hospitalizations, and 1,649 recoveries.
- with a file from Jess Fedigan, PrinceGeorgeMatters
