The healthcare landscape in Cape Breton witnessed a significant shift recently, signaling potential relief for the region’s beleaguered healthcare system. In a crucial development, visitor restrictions imposed due to respiratory illness outbreaks have been lifted at two major hospitals in Cape Breton. These outbreaks had affected a significant number of patients in various units since November, prompting the authorities to take strict preventive measures.
The affected units included the neonatal, obstetrics, mother/baby, and pediatric setups at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Besides, the obstetrics unit located at the Glace Bay hospital was also under similar vexing restrictions. This intervention limited the number of visitors for each patient while effectively barring anyone suffering from illnesses that could be spread easily, such as by coughing and sneezing.
The prominent viruses on the restriction list included the common cold, flu, and notably, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, commonly known as RSV. Despite the lifting of restrictions, the Nova Scotia Health Authority urges visitors to continue exuding caution when visiting hospitals, community health centres, and continuing care units. The ongoing advisory remains that individuals or households battling any illness must avoid hospital visits.
Moreover, visitors are strongly urged to maintain hand hygiene, signified by cleaning their hands upon entering and leaving a patient’s room. Nonetheless, these revised regulations do not presently extend to Waterford Heights, a continuing care facility operating a 24-bed setup at the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital. Current restrictions remain active here as Infection Prevention and Control and Public Health Services continue to monitor an active outbreak of an upper respiratory illness.
As part of the response measures, additional cleaning protocols are being administered in the unit, and all recreational activities have been suspended. By and large, a troubling trend is being witnessed globally as the number of colorectal cancer cases, a significant killer amongst women, has been on the rise.
Consequently, all healthcare professionals must keep an eye out for this development while exercising caution and contributing effectively towards the control and preventive measures against infections and respiratory illnesses.
Source: https://ca.style.yahoo.com/style/visitor-restrictions-lifted-two-cb-182619326.html