Ward closes as covid cases identified in hospital

Tuesday 17 November 2020

A ward in Jersey’s General Hospital will be closed for the next 10 days after a number of individuals receiving treatment there for other conditions tested positive for covid.

A Health spokesperson said yesterday that three people had tested positive for the virus within the hospital.

This afternoon, they confirmed that another case has been identified. They also said that one of the four is expected to be discharged from the facility later today. 

“Following yesterday’s announcement that the General Hospital has three confirmed cases of covid-19, we can now indicate that one of these cases is unrelated to the other two,” they said. 

“Additionally, there has been a further unrelated positive admission. However, we expect one of these patients to be discharged later today.”  

The spokesperson went on to emphasise: “None of these patients are in hospital due to covid - they are all being treated for other conditions.

"The Hospital continues to function as normal.

“One ward in the Hospital has been closed as part of our usual infection control measures to contain the virus.” 

They also confirmed current infection control measures, which include:

• Daily screening of all staff and patients who have been on the affected ward, with visitors contacted by Track and Trace.
• Closing the affected ward for the next 10 days.
• Enhanced cleaning of the ward and surrounding areas.
• Reducing the movement of staff in the surrounding wards.
• Continuing our policy for all staff to be wearing surgical face masks at all times and in all areas of the Hospital.
• Continuing to monitor mask wearing and PPE compliance of staff, patients and visitors.