Photo: KGH Foundation

A second COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Kelowna General Hospital.

Saturday afternoon, Interior Health announced one patient and one staff member in Unit 5B have tested positive for the virus, and IH has declared an outbreak in that unit.

“There is no evidence of COVID-19 transmission to other areas of the hospital at this time,” Interior Health said in a statement.

“Outbreak control measures are in place and a team of infection control and communicable disease specialists, along with KGH clinical staff and leaders, are meeting daily to contain the outbreak."

Interior Health says this outbreak is not connected to the COVID-19 outbreak in KGH's Unit 4B, which was declared on Feb. 22. To date, six patients and one staff member have been linked to that first outbreak, and two patients have died.

“The hospital remains safe to attend for appointments and emergency care,” IH says. “Please continue with any scheduled procedures. Self-isolation or COVID-19 testing is not required after visiting the hospital.”