Interior Health has declared new COVID-19 outbreaks at hospitals in Kelowna and Vernon.

One patient and one staff member on Unit 4E at Kelowna General Hospital has tested positive for the virus.

IH says the cases do not appear to be linked to the outbreak that is currently active on Unit 5B, where are ten cases – five patients and five staff with two deaths.

There has been a COVID outbreak at Kelowna General Hospital since February 22, when it was declared in Unit 4B. It was declared over on March 8 with seven cases – six patients and one staff member – and two deaths were linked. The active outbreak on Unit 5B was declared two days earlier on March 6.

Meanwhile, three patients on the Level 3 surgical unit at Vernon Jubilee Hospital have also tested positive for COVID-19.

Anyone who was discharged from that unit between March 15 and March 21 is being told to self-isolate. Further, some surgeries in Vernon that required an overnight stay may be postponed, but replaced with day surgeries.

“The [hospitals] remain safe to attend for appointments and emergency care. Please continue with any scheduled procedures,” Interior Health said, in a statement. “Self-isolation or COVID-19 testing is not required after visiting the hospital.”

The health authority says there is no evidence of COVID-19 transmission to other areas of either hospital at this time.