Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare has announced a doctor and 22 coworkers are under self-isolation after the physician showed symptoms but has not tested positive for COVID-19.
Officials announced the doctor's family, staff and eight patients who were in contact with the physician are being monitored and self-isolated from the hospital's1453 Prince Rd. location Thursday.
CEO Janice Kaffer says the doctor was travelling, but not to a hotspot for the virus.
"This physician did not meet the case definition outlined by the World Health Organization so they reported to work on Monday March 9. Since Monday, the physician's symptoms have worsened and the physician has self-isolated at home," she says.
She tells AM800 News it's most likely influenza, but a test was ordered in an abundance of caution after Wednesday's pandemic announcement.
"This physician is currently working with the Windsor Essex County Health Unit in order to get tested," says Kaffer. "We were told [it can take] up to 24 hours to get the test results back, so we are doing what we're doing just in case."
Kaffer says only two entry points will be used to enter and exit the west-Windsor hospital until further notice. Visitors will be screened and restricted on case-by-case basis.
The Windsor Essex County Health Unit called a press conference shortly after HDGH at its 1005 Ouellette Ave. location Thursday.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed re-assured the public there are zero confirmed cases of the virus in the region.
"If there is a confirmed case, you will hear it directly from me and from my team. Public health has always taken the lead in informing the community about any case ... so we want to make sure we are following that," he says. "The key piece is also, because we have tested almost 50 individuals in the community, we want to respect everyone's privacy."
Ahmed did tell AM800 News nine people are currently under self-isolation and the health unit is monitoring them daily.
He says the health unit's experiencing higher than normal call volumes due to the pandemic, so he's asking the public to be patient and check the health unit's COVID-19 page for the most up to date information.
— with files from AM800's Gord Bacon and Kristylee Varley