BREAKING: First coronavirus patient confirmed at Sunnybrook Hospital

By

Published January 25, 2020 at 11:13 pm

cover_photo_3

Sunnybrook Hospital has reported that it is currently caring for a patient with a confirmed case of coronavirus.

A new strand of coronavirus, known for causing respiratory infections that can potentially be fatal, was recently reported in Wuhan, China.

As of January 24, at least 25 deaths and 547 confirmed cases in China have been reported in relation to the virus.

The Toronto hospital reports that it has admitted a patient with coronavirus, and confirms that the patient had recent travel history to Wuhan, China.

“On Thursday evening (January 23) an adult male presented to the Sunnybrook Emergency Department with fever and respiratory symptoms,” Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre said in a recent statement.

“Sunnybrook’s Emergency Department team isolated the patient immediately and took the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of staff and other patients. Diagnostic testing was conducted and specimens were sent to the Public Health Lab in Ontario to confirm the diagnosis.”

The patient is currently in stable condition and remains in isolation away from the other patients.

He will undergo treatment to manage his symptoms, with a number of hospital teams caring for him over the next few days.

Sunnybrook remains open at this time and the hospital says it is still safe for patients and visitors.

“I want to thank our front-line teams and the great efforts of those in Public Health, for acting so quickly and efficiently to ensure the patient received an accurate diagnosis and is being cared for safely and effectively,” said Dr. Andy Smith, President and CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

In response to this case, the Ontario government has launched a new page on its website for information about coronavirus and steps residents can take to protect themselves.

insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising