SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - Prince County Hospital in Summerside is extending visitor restrictions after more patients and staff experienced symptoms of gastro-intestinal illness.
Restrictions were initially put into effect on Monday, Sept. 24.
Effective immediately and until further notice, no visitors are being permitted on the hospital’s medical unit as well as the restorative/surgery unit due to 18 cases of the illness. Visitation may be allowed in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the health care team.
“As patients on a different unit within the hospital are also experiencing symptoms we are extending visitor restrictions to ensure patient and public safety,” said Tara Ferguson, provincial infection prevention and control supervisor. “We continue to place patients experiencing gastro-intestinal symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea on precautions, and staff are working diligently to carry out heightened infection control practices. We are also working with colleagues at the hospital and provincial laboratory to determine the cause of the outbreak and what the connection is, if any, between the two affected units in the hospital.”
Everyone coming to the hospital should clean their hands before and after entering a patient’s room or a department and upon entering and leaving the facility. Alcohol hand rinse stations are available throughout the hospital.
The situation will be reassessed Friday as more information becomes available and a further update will be provided at that time.
