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The patient who has been confirmed infected with covid-19 was admitted to the hospital for treatment in the middle of last week. During the stay, the patient began to present mild symptoms of covid-19. The infection was confirmed Wednesday.
Three infected employees in two hospitals
– Two UNN employees in Harstad have so far tested positive in rapid tests. These are isolated in anticipation of responses to routine testing, Operations Manager Gina Johansen said during a news conference on the situation Thursday morning.
An UNN employee in Narvik also tested positive for COVID-19, UNN said this afternoon. This case of infection is also associated with the outbreak in Harstad hospital.
EVIDENCE FOR EVERYONE: Harstad Hospital Operations Manager Gina Johansen reported on the outbreak Thursday.
Photo: Trygve Grønning / NRK
Montessori school closed
The close contact who is infected is affiliated with the Harstad Montessori school, Harstad Municipality reports in a press release. The school is now at the red initiative level, and the school will be closed from next Friday until the Christmas break begins. It is scheduled for homeschooling and all students and most teachers are in quarantine until Thursday, December 17.
The employee is isolated and a close contact survey and infection tracking among employees has been implemented.
More than 100 in quarantine
UNN has quarantined 45 employees, 66 people so far have been quarantined by the municipality’s infection detection team.
This means that more than 100 people are now in quarantine in Harstad. This number is expected to increase throughout the day. All people who are defined as close contacts are, or will be, contacted by the municipality’s infection detection team.
– We have decided to test all employees and patients in surgical and orthopedic beds. No patients will be sent until they have tested negative, says Gina Johansen of the situation at the hospital.
11 employees are close contacts with those infected at UNN in Narvik. All have tested negative in rapid tests, but have been quarantined pending responses from ordinary tests.
Take in use of the health center
In connection with the outbreak, the municipality of Harstad has prepared the rehabilitation department of the Health Center to receive patients from the hospital.
– 12 people have been discharged from the health center to accommodate hospital patients, says the communications manager of the municipality of Harstad, in addition, some planned stays will be postponed next week, says the communications manager of the municipality of Harstad, Øyvind Arvola.
Increase readiness
The situation is described as a local outbreak. Efforts are being made to obtain a full description of the infection situation, the hospital writes on its website.
The source of the infection is currently unclear. Since Wednesday, a close contact survey and testing of employees has been conducted, in addition to a small number of affected patients.
Harstad hospital will have reduced capacity in the coming days.
Patients who have an appointment for orthopedics and surgery on Thursday and Friday will be contacted by the hospital. Other patients must attend at the scheduled time, the hospital says.
Yellow emergency means the following changes in operations:
- Acute surgery patients for the entire admission area of UNN Harstad are referred to UNN Narvik or UNN Tromsø for treatment. Valid until further notice.
- Harstad, Kvæfjord and Tjeldsund emergency medical patients are treated in Harstad. Patients from other municipalities are referred to UNN Narvik or UNN Tromsø. Valid until further notice.
- An inpatient review is done and the hospital discusses discharge options as soon as medically justifiable.
- Patients who are considered close contacts are placed in solitary confinement whenever possible.
- A review of internal resources and the possibility of reassigning employees is carried out.
– We have employees that we pick up from the outpatient department and other positions that are not as affected by this, says Operations Manager Gina Johansen.
At UNN in Narvik, the situation does not affect ordinary operations.
