COVID-19 outbreak declared Tuesday at Mississauga’s Credit Valley Hospital

Trillium Health Partners has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 at Credit Valley Hospital after confirming four patients in the same unit have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. 

In a media statement, the health network says it took “immediate” precautions to protect patients and staff at the Mississauga hospital. 

“Under the guidance of THP Infection Prevention and Control, the unit was placed on appropriate precautionary measures, and all steps have been taken to quickly manage and identify any individuals with potential exposure to the virus,” the statement reads. “The four patients identified as having positive COVID-19 tests are being safely relocated to a unit exclusively caring for patients with COVID-19. All other patients on the unit are being actively monitored for symptoms associated with COVID19.”

Few details were shared about the prior status of the patients infected, and their initial reason for being in the hospital. COVID-19 is known to be more fatal to those who have pre-existing respiratory conditions or diabetes. 

“Our top priority is the safety of patients, our health care workers and the community. As we continue to see community spread of COVID-19, THP remains vigilant and is actively preparing measures to respond to additional cases and outbreaks,” the statement concludes.

The news of the outbreak Tuesday afternoon was the latest in a string of unfortunate updates for Peel Region. 

Along with the region seeing its largest single-day increase of new COVID-19 cases confirmed Tuesday morning with 61 new confirmed infections, bringing the region’s total to 277 (154 of which are in Mississauga), Peel also saw its first death as a result of the virus. 

The cases of COVID-19 in Peel have spiked over the last week, increasing to a total of 277 with 61 new cases confirmed Tuesday. 

A Brampton man in his 70s who was being treated for COVID-19 reportedly passed away on March 26.  

“While physical distancing remains critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19, this tragic passing reminds us that we must remain socially together and supportive in spirit,” stated Dr. Lawrence Loh, the region’s interim medical officer of health in a news release. “We also sadly know this will likely not be the last life lost in our community to COVID-19,” Loh continued. “I call on everyone to strengthen our resolve to collectively slow the spread and save lives. More than ever, residents who are ill should self-isolate at home for fourteen days, and all residents should stay home as much as possible, only going out for essential reasons.”

Currently, Trillium is operating two COVID-19 assessment centres, one at Mississauga Hospital, the other at Credit Valley. According to data from the health network, 195 people have tested positive for the virus at the assessment centres (these numbers are as of 12 p.m on March 31 and it’s not clear if the outbreak numbers are included in this total) and 20 individuals with COVID-19 are currently being treated at Trillium’s hospitals. The data does not break down on a per hospital basis. 

Trillium Health Partners (THP) is in charge of two Mississauga facilities: Credit Valley Hospital and Mississauga Hospital. In its plan, for 2019 to 2029, THP issued its own cry for help. It described the current system setup as “under-resourced for the size and needs of the community,” adding that no hospital network in Ontario will receive more demand for acute services across the next two decades.

A Timeline of Trillium’s COVID-19 Preparation

• March 10: Trillium Health Partners confirmed its second case of COVID-19 the prior week, with an individual assessed at Mississauga Hospital. Mississauga’s second COVID-19 case was the spouse of Peel’s first case, with the result delayed by initially inconclusive results. An updated test on Mar. 5 came back positive and the infected person was sent home to self-isolate. Mississauga's Trillium Health Partners told The Pointer that it is “committed” to public and patient safety. “We have robust precautionary measures in place and have been working closely with local, provincial and federal health authorities to ensure an effective response to COVID-19 which includes strategies for case management, patient care and infection prevention and control,” a spokesperson for the health network said. “We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and are preparing accordingly.”  Trillium Health and any other care facilities operating in the region all take their lead from Peel Public Health (PPH). Since the start of the global spread in early 2020, PPH had deployed between 70 and 80 staff (10 percent of its workforce) by this date, to deal specifically with emergency investigations related to COVID-19. These included nurses, medical analysts, epidemiologists and other healthcare professionals with considerable experience, said Dr. Loh. “This work to date is essentially what has prevented the development of community transmission [of COVID-19] in Peel,” said Loh.

• March 13: Dr. Jessica Hopkins, Peel’s former chief medical officer (who has since moved to a role with the province), told The Pointer she wasn’t surprised by the creeping rise of COVID-19 cases, and felt confident in the region’s management of the pandemic, which locally had not yet seen any “community-transmitted” source of infection. At this date all of the cases in Ontario were traced to external factors: vacationers who returned from their travels, picking up the virus from a country, like Italy or Spain, or parts of China where it had become widespread.  Community transmission could eventually happen here, said Hopkins, but the rate of infection was proceeding as expected. More drastic measures like emergency bylaws banning public gatherings — similar to those enacted in Seattle where there were 190 confirmed cases and 22 deaths as of March 10 — were not necessary, at that time, she said. Even with the relatively small number of cases at that time, the region’s health authority was starting to feel the pressure as it devoted more resources to monitoring local cases. With the emphasis on containing the spread of infection, the region had to shift some of its workforce from other health services deemed less essential. 

• March 19: In Mississauga, THP's head confirmed to councillors during a special council meeting that it has 100 critical care beds, with a plan in place to double capacity to 200 if or when necessary. “I do believe at this point we are at the right point,” CEO Michelle DiEmanuele told councillors. “But we can and will do more.”