Raleigh, North Carolina – Twenty patients and staff at the Duke Raleigh Hospital cancer ward have tested positive for coronavirus, a spokeswoman for Duke University Health System said on Tuesday.
The outbreak has been limited to a wing on the fifth floor of the hospital, which is now closed to visitors, spokeswoman Sarah Avery said in an email to WRAL News.
“We are continuously monitoring contacts to help identify possible additional exposures and are vigilant as a healthcare system to comply with safety precautions, infection controls or preparation for outbreaks,” Avery said.
Duke Health declined to break down how many patients and how many employees were infected, citing patient privacy.
All patients and unit staff are being tested and all rooms and common areas are being disinfected, he said. Infected patients who continue to need hospitalization have been transferred to the COVID-19 unit designated by the hospital.
“One of the things we’re going to be very careful about here is going back and seeing where infections can occur,” said Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert at Duke Health. “Have we been able to reach everyone who may have been impacted, not just with us, but with the help of the health department?”
Avery said most Duke Raleigh Hospital staff have been vaccinated against coronavirus, but some have delayed vaccination “for various personal reasons.”
“Vaccines are highly effective in protecting people from infection, but in case of infection, they also prevent severe COVID and death. The benefits of the vaccine have been evident in this situation,” he said.
“Even if there are a small number of people who can still get COVID after a vaccine, [we know] that the severity of his illness is minimized, “Wolfe said.” Therefore, in an environment where staff members, family members or patients are vaccinated, they have been minimized. “