Ian HollidayReporter, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Alyse Kotyk Reporter, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Published Friday, July 17, 2020 1:23PM PDT
Last Updated Friday, July 17, 2020 3:47PM PDT
VANCOUVER -- B.C.'s top doctor says one infant has tested positive for COVID-19 at a Vancouver hospital where an outbreak was declared in the neonatal intensive care unit Thursday.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry addressed the new outbreak at St. Paul's Hospital at a last-minute news conference Friday afternoon. She also announced 28 new cases of COVID-19 in the province.
The outbreak was reported Thursday afternoon, after the daily coronavirus update from Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. Outbreak protocols have been enacted and the unit has been closed for cleaning, Vancouver Coastal Health says.
Henry was unable to say how many people at the hospital had tested positive for the virus so far, but did say that there are fewer than 10 people who were in the exposed group. She specified that a single baby had tested positive, though the child had not been showing any symptoms.
The provincial health officer told reporters there were no babies in the NICU with "severe" or "worrisome" illness, and stressed that children under age 10 tend to be much less likely to become infected with COVID-19 or to have severe illness when they do.
"I do believe it is a very low-risk scenario for those who are in the NICU," Henry said.
A VCH spokesperson told CTV News the hospital's maternity ward is still open and a satellite NICU has opened.
"There is no evidence of risk to patients elsewhere in the hospital," a statement from VCH says.
On Friday, Henry stressed that St. Paul's maternity unit "remains fully operational."
"Infants and families can continue to safely receive the care they need," the provincial health officer said.
Everyone who may have been exposed to the virus is now being monitored, Henry said.
"There are a number of families and staff who have been contacts who are now isolated," she added.
This is a developing news story and will be updated.