Covid-19 outbreak detected at Reus hospital affecting 26 workers and patients

Most cases asymptomatic as visits restricted in two parts of the southern Catalonia medical center

Sant Joan Hospital in Reus on August 21, 2020 (by Núria Torres)
Sant Joan Hospital in Reus on August 21, 2020 (by Núria Torres) / ACN

ACN | Reus

September 2, 2020 12:45 PM

The Sant Joan Hospital in Reus has detected a Covid-19 outbreak in two of its departments, internal medicine and the nursing area.

According to the medical center, 26 patients and staff have been discovered to have Covid-19 and no visitors will be allowed to visit patients in either of these two areas.

In total, 19 people out of the 26 diagnosed are asymptomatic, although others have been experiencing respiratory problems and other symptoms.

A patient in the nursing area with symptoms ending up testing positive, after which all patients on the same floor were tested - of these 14, were found to have the virus.

Another case was spotted in the internal medicine area on August 19, and after two screenings, 11 more people tested positive.

Patients will not be allowed to receive visits although staff intend to call their families to update them on their wellbeing from 1 pm to 5 pm.

Reus has been in the spotlight over the past few weeks after a higher number of cases were detected there, leading the Catalan health department to enhance restrictions that were already in place in other parts of Catalonia.

Targeted mass screenings were also carried out in Reus (Baix Camp county) in late August.