New COVID-19 outbreak at LHSC's University Hospital

Vehicles are seen stopped outside the London Health Sciences Centre's University Hospital in London, Ont., Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. (CTV News file image)

Middlesex Centre, Ont. — After more than a month outbreak-free, the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has a declared a new COVID-19 outbreak.

The outbreak was declared Friday in University Hospital's U4 - Medicine 1 area, also known as 4IP.

LHSC says that fewer than five patients have tested positive, no staff or health-care providers are affected and there are no deaths associated with the outbreak.

Throughout the hospital, officials say they are caring for seven inpatients with COVID-19, while fewer than five staff have currently tested positive.

It was Feb. 3 when LHSC finally declared itself outbreak free for the first time since Nov. 10.

During that period there were 20 unit-level outbreaks between University Hospital and Victoria Hospital, involving 115 staff/physician cases, 94 patient cases and 31 deaths.