Exeter (N.H.) Hospital reopened its emergency department Saturday, one day after at least 19 staff members reported becoming ill and the facility was partially evacuated.
EH said the ED "is now open, fully staffed and we are no longer on divert status."
On its Facebook page, the hospital noted the reopening follows "an extensive contracted professional cleaning of both the emergency department and the inpatient" operating room. EH aims to open the OR Monday morning.
EH evacuated its inpatient operating room and emergency room Friday after staff members reported symptoms of dizziness and nausea. Overall, 19 staff members reported symptoms, and "all symptoms have now resolved" after staff members received care, EH said in an update Friday night.
Exeter Assistant Fire Chief Eric Wilking told New Hampshire Union Leader the exact cause of Friday's event was still unclear, but those investigating looked at various possible causes.
"We sampled air. We sampled — everything normal. Filtration, everything in the OR and the ED and found nothing that would've caused this," he told the publication Saturday.
He added, "It could be outside air coming in as a contaminant. We're looking at cleaning fluids that could have been used in the hospital. Obviously the rumor got out that it was anesthesia gas, but we don't know that."
Mr. Wilking also said in the report no carbon monoxide problems or liquid spills were detected.