Toronto (May 25, 2003) - The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute is taking precautions to ensure no transmission of SARS to staff and patients after the discovery last week of a new cluster of cases in several Toronto hospitals and, today, of a Toronto Rehab employee who has SARS-like symptoms. Regrettably, this employee is now in an acute care hospital, where she is receiving treatment.There is no evidence of any transmission of SARS at Toronto Rehab related to this one employee, or to any other circumstance. The part-time employee worked on May 22 and 23 in the Acquired Brain Injury unit (4 East) of the Neuro Rehabilitation Program at the hospital's University Centre. She also worked recently in the affected unit at North York General Hospital.
After consulting with infection control experts and public health officials, Toronto Rehab is taking the following precautions to protect our patients, staff and visitors:
- The Acquired Brain Injury unit (4E) at the University Centre has been closed. Patients will stay on the unit and staff will be in "working quarantine" at least until June 3. New patients are not being admitted to the unit. Visitors are not permitted.
- SARS screening will continue at all of Toronto Rehab's five centres. Anyone who fails screening will not be permitted to enter the hospital.
- New patients will not be admitted from affected hospitals in Toronto. All new patients are being fully screened prior to admission and upon arrival at Toronto Rehab.
- Universal infection control procedures are in place and frequent hand washing is being practiced. With the exception of the Acquired Brain Injury unit, inpatient and outpatient programs and services remain open in all other parts of the hospital. Everyone entering our buildings will be screened.
Thank you for your help and cooperation.
