Four patients at Mississauga’s Credit Valley Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19.

The four patients had all been in the same in-patient rehab unit, according to a statement from Trillium Health Partners, which runs the hospital.

Trillium wouldn’t release the ages or condition of the patients, who have now been moved to a unit that is exclusively treating COVID-19 patients.

Credit Valley Hospital issued an indefinite ban on visitors March 20 because of the pandemic.

“Our top priority is the safety of patients, our health care workers and the community. As we continue to see community spread of COVID-19, THP remains vigilant and is actively preparing measures to respond to additional cases and outbreaks,” Trillium’s statement added.

A highly placed doctor who is assisting in provincial decision-making on the pandemic says priority testing should be expanded to all residents of long-term care, all health-care workers no matter what setting they work in — and to hospital patients.

“I think we need to be thinking very aggressively about testing all health-care workers, especially in long-term care and acute care, and patients and residents,” said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to give media interviews.

The provincial source said health-care workers, patients and nursing home residents need to go to the front of the testing line.

“Now that the majority of transmission is community-based, and we continue to debate whether or not there is asymptomatic transmission, the riskiest groups should be tested, and they are health-care workers and health-care patients,” he continued.

Asked about the limited number of testing swabs available, the source said these groups should go to the front of the line and be made a priority.

“A lot of people will say that’s overkill, that’s too much, but I don’t think it’s too much,” he said.

Currently, health-care workers are tested if they are showing symptoms.

“Those who are going to work to care for patients and those who are hospitalized could pass it on to other patients,” the source said.

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