COVID-19 outbreak declared at Royal Inland Hospital; seven patients infected in surgical ward

KAMLOOPS — Despite the province moving to Phase 3 of its Restart Plan Thursday (July 1), the virus is not finished with us yet.

Interior Health has announced a COVID-19 outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

The outbreak was declared on 6 South, a surgical unit at the hospital. There are seven cases confirmed, all of them among patients on the ward.

IH says surgeries are continuing at Royal Inland, but patients admitted after surgery will be sent to a different floor. Six South is closed for admissions.

Health officials are reassuring the public that the hospital is safe to attend for appointments and emergencies.

Infection control specialists, communicable disease professionals and RIH staff are helping to contain the outbreak.