Calgary hospital dealing with COVID-19 delta variant outbreaks on 2 units
Sixteen patients and four health care workers at the Foothills Medical Centre (FMC) in Calgary have tested positive for the B.1.617.2 COVID-19 variant, otherwise known as the delta variant that was first identified in India.
Two units are experiencing an outbreak of the delta variant, Alberta Health Services (AHS) said in a statement, and teams are working to identify the source of infection.
"Management and caregivers on the affected units have been instructed to exercise extra vigilance with respect to PPE and fit-for-work screening," reads the AHS statement.
The hospital has experienced several outbreaks on different units over the course of the pandemic. This is the first outbreak that has involved the delta strain of the virus.
"This one definitely feels different," said Cameron Westhead with United Nurses of Alberta.
"Primarily because we know that one dose of the vaccination isn't very effective at this delta variant and a lot of our members don't yet have second doses."
The hospital remains open and has capacity to treat all patients, though AHS said the two units affected by the delta variant are not accepting admissions. Patient transfers to long-term care centres from the two units with the delta variant are also on hold.
AHS said it had not recorded any new cases at one of the outbreaks since May 20. At the other, no new symptomatic people had been observed on Tuesday morning.
"Temporarily restricting admissions to the units reduces the patient population on the affected units and allows for greater distancing and less sharing of high-contact spaces such as bathrooms," AHS said.
According to Alberta Health, a first dose of an mRNA vaccine — like Pfizer and Moderna— offers 73 per cent protection against the alpha variant. That immunity is boosted to 91 per cent with a second dose.
But against the delta strain, one dose only offers 33 per cent protection, and two doses 88 per cent protection.
AHS says it has inpatient immunization clinics happening at Foothills for patients and staff.
"Just when people are ready for summer and the provincial government is really pushing its reopen for summer plan, it seems like maybe people are letting their guard down and celebrating a bit too soon," Westhead said.
The B.1.617.2 variant was first confirmed in Alberta on April 8. Since then, the province has recorded 193 cases of the strain, 163 of those have been in the Calgary Zone.
With files from CTV Edmonton's Amanda Anderson and Alex Antoneshyn
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.