BELFAST — An outbreak of COVID-19 is being investigated at the Waldo County General Hospital by the Maine CDC, according to Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah during his Nov. 6 COVID-19 briefing. 

Four staff members of the hospital have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. 

“Care team members at Pen Bay Medical Center (PBMC) and Waldo County General Hospital (WCGH) are on the front lines of this fight against COVID-19,” said Mark Fourre, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital CEO. 

Both hospitals maintain a multilayered approach to optimize patient safety including daily screening, universal masking, use of eye protection and testing, among other CDC recommendations, according to a letter from Fourre. 

“Despite this, we have seen a small number of positive cases among our employees at WCGH,” said Fourre. “Please be assured that all appropriate precautions are in place and the affected individuals are in isolation in accordance with CDC guidelines.”

Shah, during his Friday briefing, noted it is unclear at this point of the Maine CDC investigation if any of these cases are linked to other outbreaks in the county, such as the outbreak at the church in Brooks, or even if each of these cases is its own isolated case.