EDMONTON — Health officials say a death previously linked to a COVID-19 outbreak at an Edmonton hospital was not caused by the illness.
Catholic health provider Covenant Health said this week that six patients at the Misericordia Community Hospital had died due to the outbreak.
The provider says that has changed to five.
It says no new cases have been identified in the past 24 hours, and 15 other patients who tested positive remain in hospital.
Three infected patients have also been discharged, two cases in the community have been linked to the outbreak and 16 staff at the hospital have become sick.
Covenant Health announced Wednesday the hospital would not be admitting new patients because of the outbreak.
The 312-bed hospital also closed its emergency department, is not allowing visitors, except in end-of-life situations, and is postponing day procedures.
On Friday, the province reported 77 new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total to 8,596. There are 592 active cases and 50 people are in hospital — most of them in Edmonton. So far, 160 people have died.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2020
The Canadian Press