Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-...mission-fomite-outbreak-magee-house-1.6033626
Delta Fredericton 'outbreak' fuelled by B1617 variant, may be spreading by surface contact
'Strong probability' transmission is via fomites, such as doorknobs and phones, says internal Horizon memo
Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon ? CBC News ? Posted: May 20, 2021 10:09 AM AT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
A growing "cluster" of COVID-19 cases at the Delta Fredericton is fuelled by the variant first reported in India and health officials believe there's a "very strong probability" it's spreading through surface contacts rather than respiratory droplets or aerosols, according to an internal Horizon Health Network memo.
There are now 36 cases linked to the former isolation hotel for non-essential travellers ? 10 "direct" cases and 26 contacts in the community and "contacts of contacts," the Department of Health confirmed Wednesday. At least one of them involves an employee.
Public Health has referred to the situation as a "cluster," not an outbreak.
But Horizon's COVID-19 committee on infectious disease and infection, prevention and control, which is co-chaired by Dr. Gordon Dow, a member of the provincial pandemic task force, described it as an outbreak in a bulletin to staff Monday.
"Public Health experience during the recent COVID-19 B.1.617 (Indian variant of concern) outbreaks at UNB Magee House residence and the Delta Hotel in Fredericton, has highlighted a very strong probability of contact/fomite transmission," the bulletin, obtained by CBC News, states...
Delta Fredericton 'outbreak' fuelled by B1617 variant, may be spreading by surface contact
'Strong probability' transmission is via fomites, such as doorknobs and phones, says internal Horizon memo
Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon ? CBC News ? Posted: May 20, 2021 10:09 AM AT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
A growing "cluster" of COVID-19 cases at the Delta Fredericton is fuelled by the variant first reported in India and health officials believe there's a "very strong probability" it's spreading through surface contacts rather than respiratory droplets or aerosols, according to an internal Horizon Health Network memo.
There are now 36 cases linked to the former isolation hotel for non-essential travellers ? 10 "direct" cases and 26 contacts in the community and "contacts of contacts," the Department of Health confirmed Wednesday. At least one of them involves an employee.
Public Health has referred to the situation as a "cluster," not an outbreak.
But Horizon's COVID-19 committee on infectious disease and infection, prevention and control, which is co-chaired by Dr. Gordon Dow, a member of the provincial pandemic task force, described it as an outbreak in a bulletin to staff Monday.
"Public Health experience during the recent COVID-19 B.1.617 (Indian variant of concern) outbreaks at UNB Magee House residence and the Delta Hotel in Fredericton, has highlighted a very strong probability of contact/fomite transmission," the bulletin, obtained by CBC News, states...