Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) has reported encouraging news concerning the treatment of patients with respiratory illnesses.
During the hospital board's meeting Thursday afternoon, trends on influenza and COVID-19 patients were presented.
According to WRH President and CEO David Musyj, flu cases nationwide have taken a significant dive, indicating a shorter-than-usual flu season in Windsor-Essex.
"The great thing about it is that it lasted only seven weeks until we hit the peak, then it started to drop," said Musyj. "The drop has been dramatic."
Graphs presented at the meeting showed flu cases peaking in December 2022, before the holiday season, and cases dropping markedly throughout the winter holidays. Musyj says while the flu season is not over by any means, the data indicate that the flu season was not as trying as earlier thought.
"Traditionally, influenza lasts until April 1," said Musyj. "It looks like we got through this influenza season early. Again, that is not to say that influenza season is over. It is still in the community. You can still acquire influenza."
Federal health experts had projected an increase in COVID-19 cases across Canada during the winter holidays, but Musyj said locally, those numbers have been stable.
"Definitely those coming into the hospital only for COVID is about the same throughout the months, give or take, so that's the constant number," said Musyj. "The good thing about, and this is the 'glass half full approach', is the fact that COVID did not spike in January."
As far as emergency department visits go, WRH reported a decline in visits in January for respiratory illnesses, at a time when emergency rooms across Ontario are still seeing long patient waits.
There were 601 emergency visits for respiratory complaints in January, down just over 10 per cent from December. The overall number of visits, however, was slightly up.