“It’s the department that you really don’t want this in”
Translated by Thomas Ansell
The Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden (MCL) is currently dealing with a Coronavirus outbreak in its Oncology department, reports the Omrop Fryslân. Eleven staff members have tested positive for the virus, whilst 6 patients have also tested positive.
Spokesperson Frits Mostert said: “you don’t want to have outbreaks in any department, but this is one where you absolutely don’t want an outbreak. The MCL is adopting policies to try and make sure that we can carry on with our oncological care as well as possible. No more patients will be taken on until at least February 8.” The hospital isn’t entirely clear on the source of the infections, Mostert said, but is now conducting source and contact tracing.
In order to stop the spread of the outbreak, the Oncology department has been completely isolated from other departments; which means that those requiring chemotherapy treatment can still attend safely. All staff that have either tested positive or exhibited cold and/or flu-like symptoms have been asked to quarantine at home.
All staff that will continue to work at the department are to be given quick-tests to be doubly sure before they start work. The MCL says that “all Oncology staff now undergo the same isolation and testing regime as those that work on our Coronavirus wards, complete with full protective equipment.”
