Outbreak declared at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre on the Mountain

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre (JHCC) after three people - two staff members and one patient - tested positive for the virus.

The outbreak was declared Dec. 3 in the hospital's E3 medicine unit, which is currently closed for admissions, according to an HHS media release issued Thursday night.

No visitors are currently allowed on the unit except on compassionate grounds," the release reads.

HHS says the infected staff members are self-isolating at home. All health-care staff on E3, as well as other staff that have spent prolonged" amounts of time on the unit, are being tested for the virus.

Staff working on the unit will not work anywhere else until the outbreak is declared over," HHS said in the release.

HHS says the unit is being disinfected above already enhanced cleaning practices," and patient care continues to be provided safely."

JHCC is located at 711 Concession St. on the Mountain.

There are 24 ongoing outbreaks in Hamilton, the largest at Chartwell Willowgrove long-term care home in Ancaster where 88 people - 57 residents, 29 staff and two visitors - are infected.

Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com