Family speaks out after coronavirus outbreak declared at St. Joseph’s ICU

The family of a patient at St. Joseph’s Health Centre is speaking out after the hospital declared an outbreak of coronavirus in their intensive care unit (ICU) after he and two staff members tested positive for the virus.

In a statement, the hospital said a patient who had recently been in the ICU developed a respiratory illness while in hospital and then tested positive for COVID-19.

Two staff members who were in contact with the patient also tested positive. They are both at home and doing well.

Kimberly MacLean tells CityNews her partner of 10 years, Wayne Moses, was admitted to the ICU on March 24 with pneumonia and placed on life support. He was tested for COVID-19 three times and all the tests were negative.

MacLean says Moses was then moved to a general floor and when he was tested again two days later, the test for COVID-19 came back positive.

“They said he was either subjected to patients with it and then [a doctor] told me that it could have been a nurse that he got it from,” she said.

Kimberly’s partner, Wayne, was admitted to the ICU with pneumonia on 03/24. She says he tested negative for #COVID19 3 separate times, but when he was moved to the general ward, his 4th test came back positive.

Wayne is celebrating a birthday tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/tUrxXxeXw7

— Faiza Amin (@Faiza_AminTV) April 14, 2020

The hospital confirmed Moses contracted COVID-19 at the hospital but did not elaborate on how he may have caught the virus.

“Health care professionals in the ICU treat all ICU patients, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment at all times,” they said in a statement.

MacLean says she was initially told to prepare for the worst, but after a change of doctors she was told the outlook was more positive.

Moses is now back in the ICU on life support, but in stable condition.

All patients who were in the ICU at St. Joseph’s when Moses tested positive last week were in turn tested and their results came back negative.

The hospital says current patients will continue to be admitted to the ICU but any new patients coming to the emergency department that may need ICU level care will be transferred to another facility.

Toronto Public Health defines an outbreak as “at least two cases acquired closely in time in a specific area by either patients or staff,” and the hospital says it is implementing all recommended precautions.