Public Health says false-negative COVID-19 tests led to an outbreak at the Halifax Infirmary during the third wave.
Nova Scotia Health has released it’s findings looking into the cases among inpatients of a non-COVID unit at the QEII in May.
The outbreak was announced on May 12th when a patient in a non-COVID unit got a positive test.
The review determined a patient with COVID symptoms had been admitted a few days before, but tested negative.
“An investigation into the cause of the outbreak began while the outbreak was still active,” Public Health says in a statement. “This included a review of patient charts, room placements, and staffing assignments; staff testing for COVID-19; and molecular analysis of viruses that were isolated from patients and health care workers.”
In total 21 people came down with the virus.
Seventeen cases were linked to false-negative results. There were three related deaths.
Nova Scotia Health says they’ve determined shared rooms are a risk factor for spreading the virus and containment protocols need to be kept in place even with a negative test.
It’s reviewing policies, sharing lessons learned, and calling for single-patient rooms to be the new standard for hospitals.
