Photo: AHS

By Shaun Penner

Acute care Unit

COVID-19 outbreak announced in acute care unit at High Prairie Health Complex

Dec 29, 2020 | 11:15 AM

Alberta Health Services says a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the acute care unit at the High Prairie Health Complex.

AHS issued the notice on Twitter Tuesday morning, saying the outbreak was declared after “a number of positive cases” were associated with the unit.

“As a result, the unit is currently closed to new admissions. Patients requiring admission will be transferred to Valleyview, Grande Prairie and Slave Lake.”

The province’s health-care administrator adds a number of staff and physicians from the facility are currently in isolation. AHS adds staff and physicians from other communities have been brought in to help at the site.

AHS says the emergency department at the High Prairie Health Complex has reopened for walk-in patients, though EMS transported-patients will continue to be re-routed to surrounding facilities.

“The site remains open and care is available to all those who need it.”

As of the end of day December 27, the Big Lakes County area, which includes the Town of High Prairie, had 75 active cases of COVID-19.