The Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) is currently under a state of high alert following the declaration of a COVID-19 outbreak involving eight cases in its third-floor medical unit. The regional health authority, Interior Health, raised this alarm on January 30 in an attempt to contain the spread, protect the vulnerable, and ensure optimum safety conditions within the facility. Several safety measures have been promptly set in motion to counteract the impending threat of wide-spread infection. These measures include heightened cleaning and disinfecting regimes, the mandatory use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and imposing visitor restrictions to essential persons only, as per the directives shared with Trail Times.
Additionally, Interior Health has made an urgent plea to the general public to abstain from visiting patients if they exhibit symptoms of illness or have had recent contact with individuals showing signs of sickness. By adhering to these directives, patients, staff, and visitors can significantly contribute to curbing the transmission of the virus. During an outbreak such as this, clear signage is installed at various unit and facility entrance points outlining the necessary guidelines to be followed. In certain cases, specific activities or external outings may be cancelled to prevent potential paths of transmission.
In a bid to fortify personal safety, healthcare professionals may don gowns, gloves and masks while providing patient care. Patients, on their part, are often advised to stay within their rooms, have meals individually, and postpone non-emergency medical appointments. In certain scenarios, patients needing additional treatment may be moved within hospital premises, while those not affected by the outbreak may continue visiting different facilities for medically necessary appointments, which can include essential cancer treatments or consultations with specialists.
As with many respiratory illnesses, COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through droplets that are released when someone infected coughs or sneezes. These infectious droplets can be ingested via the eyes, nose or mouth of another person; or by being on common high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, countertops, clothing and hands. Symptoms typically present as new or worsening cough and fever, alongside general malaise, runny nose, sore throat or headache.
It is essential for everyone to frequently wash their hands and adhere to standard infection-control measures to limit the spread of the virus. An up-to-date list of active facility outbreaks across hospitals and long-term care facilities regulated under the Hospital Act or licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act is available on the Interior Health website. Facilities are then removed from this list once their respective outbreaks are deemed under control and officially declared over.
Source: https://castlegarnews.com/2026/02/03/eight-cases-confirmed-in-covid-19-outbreak-at-trail-hospital/