The hospitals in Chatham-Kent are slowly but surely getting their much needed and treasured staff back from isolation after returning home from the March Break.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) CEO Lori Marshall told reporters during a media briefing on Thursday morning that 35 healthcare staff and a handful of doctors are still isolated but all should be back on the frontlines this weekend. More than 100 healthcare workers and 17 doctors had to be isolated after vacationing or working outside of Canada in mid-March. She said the hospitals have managed well so far and remain at about 60 per cent occupancy.
Marshall is also agreeing with calls from the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) for the government to clearly and specifically inform hospitals on when new personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies will be delivered. She said CKHA is okay for now but only has a two week supply of N95 masks and has to recycle and conserve them as much as possible. The OHA said it is "extremely concerned" that many Ontario hospitals are running low on PPE, particularly masks as the number of Ontarians requiring acute care for COVID-19 rises sharply.
During a Facebook live public question and answer session on Friday, Marshall said CKHA has PPE orders all over the place.
"While the OHA understands there is unprecedented global demand and supply chain disruption, Ontario hospitals are now at a critical juncture," wrote Anthony Dale, OHA president and CEO, in a statement. "The OHA calls on the Right Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and the Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, and their governments, to work unceasingly to ensure that new supply is provided immediately to Ontario's hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes and other essential health services providers."
Dale said these urgent actions are needed to ensure the safety of Ontario's dedicated health care workers who are working tirelessly to provide life-saving care to a growing number of Ontario's most vulnerable patients.
Chatham-Kent's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Colby, said between 40 and 70 per cent of people can get infected at the same time but hopes that's not the case here. Dr. Colby said five per cent of infected people can be hospitalized and the goal is not to overwhelm the health care system.
The Ontario Hospital Association has issued a thank you to the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario for their ongoing actions to help ensure Ontario hospitals are prepared to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The urgent and repeated pleas to Canadians to stay home and to maintain physical distancing, as well as the allocation of financial resources to ensure that hospitals and other health providers have the financial resources needed to operate during a potential surge in COVID-19 cases, is truly appreciated," said Dale.