SPRINGFIELD – Baystate Health reported an outbreak of coronavirus infections at Baystate Medical Center on Monday that affected 23 employees and 13 patients.
Dr. Mark Keroack, Baystate Health president and CEO, said last week’s outbreak appears to be related in part to an employee returning to work after visiting another state identified as a “hot spot” for COVID-19.
In addition, the hospital’s “extensive review” also tracked the outbreak to employees who gathered in break rooms and had removed their masks, Keroack said.
The outbreak is “deeply disappointing,” said Keroack.
“This event reinforces that COVID-19 is highly contagious and requires surveillance to contain its spread,” said Keroack. “We remain committed to high-quality care and safe environments, and transparency with everyone in our community who count on us every day.”
Baystate Health is not disclosing the specific area of the hospital where the outbreak occurred, but it was not a COVID-19 unit, a spokesperson said.
Patients treated in the affected hospital unit July 15-23 are being contacted so they can be tested for COVID-19 and participate in contact tracing, Keroack said.
All employees working in that area of the hospital are being screened for coronavirus, as well as any employees who entered that area for more than 15 minutes, Keroack said.
Before the new outbreak, there were no documented transmissions of the virus between patients and employees, Keroack said.
“Our safety culture is our number one priority,” said Keroack.
The hospital system has communicated with its staff to reinforce the safety requirements of COVID-19, including frequent hand hygiene, the use of masks, and social distancing, as well as not going to work when sick.
Baystate Health is also evaluating all of the rest areas and making modifications as needed, Keroack said.
A new policy, in line with Massachusetts travel restrictions that will take effect on August 1, will require quarantine for any Baystate employee returning from a COVID-19 hot spot, Keroack said.
The hospital system already has a ban on corporate travel and meetings.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began in March, Baystate Health has cared for more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients at its four hospitals, Keroack said. Hospitals are in Springfield, Westfield, Palmer, and Greenfield.
Baystate Health has approximately 12,000 employees, including approximately 6,000 employees at Baystate Medical Center. The system has not released a number of employees known to have contracted the virus during the pandemic.
As of Monday, there were 16 patients with COVID-19 at Baystate Medical Center, including three intensive care patients. The number of hospitalizations was also in teens a week ago, with 13 hospitalized on July 20.
“The virus will remain a real threat for many months to come, and we must stay focused on taking appropriate precautions to avoid future instances of its reintroduction and spread,” said Keroack.
