COVID-19 outbreak at Brantford General Hospital after virus infects 2 staff members

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the emergency department at Brantford General Hospital after two staff members tested positive for the virus.

Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) announced the outbreak via a social media post on Sunday.

"Contact tracing shows there has been no clear link established between the two cases and no patients are affected," reads the notice.

"BCHS is taking all precautions and steps to keep all patients, families, visitors, employees and physicians safe and healthy."

The outbreak was actually announced Friday according to a social media post by Six Nations of the Grand River. It's unclear why BCHS and public health didn't share the information sooner.

The hospital system says its current COVID-19 protocol includes enhanced cleaning in all areas, limiting visitors, screening anyone entering facilities, mandatory masking, and using appropriate personal protective equipment.

The local health unit told CBC News any close contacts to these two cases have been declared "low risk for transmission" and should have already been contacted.

A dozen people in Brant County and the city of Brantford are known to have COVID-19. Eleven are at home and one is in hospital. 

Overall, the area has seen 148 confirmed cases, a number that is unchanged from Wednesday. Of those, 132 have recovered and four have died.