COVID-19 outbreak declared at Royal Inland Hospital

Interior Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital after two patients tested positive in the same unit.

An outbreak management team is in place at unit 6 North conducting tests and implementing outbreak measures, according to a news release from the health authority issued today, Sept. 28.

An investigation first started after there was an exposure to the virus, Interior Health said.

The new outbreak at the hospital is one of four current COVID-19 outbreaks in Kamloops at health-care facilities, according to Interior Health.

Kamloops Seniors Village, the longest running outbreak, has 19 active cases, which includes 10 residents and nine staff members.

There is one death connected to that outbreak since it was first declared on Aug. 27.

There are also outbreaks at The Hamlets at Westsyde and Overlander Residential Care. There are 24 active cases at those facilities but no deaths have been recorded.

Throughout the Interior Health region, there are five more outbreaks at health-care facilities, including one a Cottonwoods Care Centre in Kelowna.

There are 41 COVID-19 cases at Cottonwoods, which includes 30 residents and 11 staff. Six people have died since the outbreak.

Interior Health lists locations of current COVID-19 outbreaks here.

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