Nurses worried virus outbreak not declared

Pasqua patient had spent five days in hospital before illness affirmed

While the investigation is ongoing for a new COVID-19 case at Regina’s Pasqua Hospital, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has not declared an outbreak for a situation the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses calls “very concerning.”

“This is becoming more and more like the theatre of the absurd ...,” SUN president Tracy Zambory said Thursday, of Regina’s first reported case of COVID -19 since April 28.

The Regina case is similar to a patient who tested positive for coronavirus at Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital on April 30, after spending several days in hospital for unrelated reasons. There, an outbreak was declared on May 1.

The Pasqua patient had been in a NON-COVID ward for five days before testing positive, Zambory said.

“What we’re dealing with is a patient that was admitted, has been in hospital on a ward for five days, has now tested positive for COVID -19 and that person was all over the ward, was looked after by all the staff and housekeeping ... It’s very serious,” said Zambory.

“What’s even more serious ... is that it’s not being reported in the same way because this is the exact same kind of scenario that happened at the Victoria Hospital in P.A., and it was reported much differently.”

The SHA has changed its protocol for declaring outbreaks, said Saskatchewan chief medical officer Dr. Saqib Shahab.

“We have, after the Lloydminster experience ... clarified our outbreak definitions,” said Shahab.

“A single case results in an outbreak declaration in a closed facility like a long-term care facility. However, in an open facility like a hospital, it’s more complicated,” said Shahab. “Patients are always coming in and out. There may be people coming in for short procedures for the same day. The staffing is also more fluid.”

In a hospital setting, he said a “single case brings the flag up” and starts an investigation.

So far, in investigating this Pasqua patient, “We have not found evidence of transmission within the health-care setting,” said Shahab.

“Obviously we will have to wait for the investigation to conclude and then we will obviously share those findings.”

Shahab added the patient will be tested again, since “repeat testing is also important in low transmission settings that is currently happening.” He said a “weak positive” is a possibility.

SHA CEO Scott Livingstone said the source of the patient’s virus — in hospital or in community — is as yet unknown.

The person had been residing in an assisted living facility. Livingstone said the patient’s contacts there would be tested.

In the hospital, said Shahab, “My understanding is that out of an initial 60, there’s 20 potential close contacts who were healthcare workers who may be assessed further. But we have to remember that over time that list comes down very quickly because health-care workers are using masks most of the time and once you go through the list, it may not result in many close-contact just like in the P.A. hospital.”

Zambory said “very little” is happening surrounding this case at the Pasqua and things are “hushhush,”

unlike the “very swift” reaction in Prince Albert two weeks ago.

Since both hospitals each had one patient test positive for COVID, she wondered why this situation would be treated so differently.

“What the outbreak notification does is it puts in extra procedures and protocols above and beyond the very stringent protocols we already have,” said Shahab, referring to cohorting staff and restricting visitors.

Re-open Saskatchewan Phase 2 proceeds, with increased testing

The Regina case was one of five new confirmed cases on Thursday — four others were in the La Loche area.

Shahab said the Regina case “is a reminder for all of us that COVID doesn’t go away; it may hide for a bit and then come out at any time. So that’s why we all need to do what we’re doing around physical distancing to allow businesses to reopen in a safe manner while keeping COVID at bay as much as we can.”

Meanwhile, drive-in theatres and golf courses can reopen today. On Tuesday, retailers, shopping malls, barber shops, salons, massage therapists, farmers’ markets and more are all allowed to reopen.

“We’re going to reopen this economy and we’re going to have these localized outbreaks if you will, whether they be in a facility or in a community or region of the province. And we need to test better,” said Premier Scott Moe.

Testing will soon be available to any Saskatchewan resident working outside of their home. Others will be proactively tested, including expectant mothers entering a hospital to give birth, all patients in acute care hospitals, and all staff working with immunocompromised patients. Details on expanded testing will come next week.

For Phase 3, said Moe, “quite frankly, I just don’t have a date … We want it to be as soon as possible, but it needs to be safe.”