Ontario hospitals are ready to step up and provide reinforcements to support their colleagues across the health care system.
Hospitals are responding to the call by Premier Doug Ford to ramp up protection in long-term care by sending hospital staff to the front lines of the battle against COVID-19.
Epidemiologist David N. Fisman said even as Ontario nears its peak among the general population, mortality rates are climbing rapidly in long term care, retirement and community living homes
Ontario hospitals are deepening their collaboration with health system partners to prevent the unnecessary loss of life in these settings.
Residents of long-term care and congregate settings are older, frailer and have more complex conditions, and the virus is transmitted quickly among residents and staff, leading to rampant spread and tragic loss of life.
Hospitals have expertise and capabilities that can reinforce and augment efforts already underway. As heartbreaking stories continue to emerge, time is of the essence.
"Our success or failure as a province in coping with this pandemic will be determined by how well we collaborate as a single, interdependent system to support those who need help the most," said Anthony Dale, president and CEO, Ontario Hospital Association.