Communities across the region continue to be hit hard by various respiratory illnesses including COVID, influenza and RSV.
This has resulted in increased pressures on hospitals and the local health care system.
The heads of the hospitals recently got together to issue a plea to the public to follow public health recommendations.
Sue Lebeau is President and CEO of the Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital in Red Lake.
Lebeau say, “We’re certainly are seeing more respiratory illness in children. That is a concern. Our docs tell us the kids that we are seeing our sicker as well.”
Local health officials stress that you can help by wearing a mask, staying home when sick and getting your flu and COVID vaccine.
Lebeau says, “We are often one or two sick calls away, either physician or staffing wise, from having to close. So very important to protect our patients, our community and our health care providers.”
She adds, “We’re often in smaller, rural or remote hospitals and we have a limited buffer so it is important that people take care of themselves.”
Doreen Armstrong-Ross is the CEO of the Dryden Regional Health Centre and says they are in the same boat as most other hospitals in Northwestern Ontario.
She says they are seeing increased respiratory illness in the community (COVID, fly, RSV) and the same staffing challenges.
Armstrong-Ross stresses, “If you’re sick but you’re not needing medial attention don’t come to the hospital and ER’s. The waits are going to be long. We are having to prioritize care for the sickest that come in.”
Despite most hospitals reporting a spike in respiratory illness and mounting pressure and stress among staff, the province is maintaining the status quo.
Ontario’s medical officer of health isn’t calling for a mask mandate yet, but says it’s important to get back to basic health protocols.
Dr. Kieran Moore says we are facing a triple threat right now, especially for kids under the age of 5.
“Mandatory masking at a certain venue may help decrease the risk at a community level but I’m very concerned about our children and it’s best that we protect them through masking in a home environment and in any social situation as we go into what will be a very social environment.”
He adds, “our hospital system needs us to protect our children more and more.”‘
The Northwestern Health Unit is also short of calling for mask mandates but is strongly recommending everyone to wear one in all indoor spaces.
