Two more COVID-19 outbreaks in Sudbury, intensive care unit at 88%

As the number of active COVID-19 infections peaks in Sudbury and Manitoulin, two more outbreaks in long-term care homes have been declared.

Sudbury & Districts Public Health said COVID-19 outbreaks were declared on Jan.4 at the Elizabeth Center and the sixth floor of Extendicare York.

This brings the number of active outbreaks to six, all in Greater Sudbury.

The epidemic that began at Villa St. Joseph on December 23 was extended to the entire facility on January 2.

An outbreak at Pioneer Manor was declared on December 27, and on January 3, outbreaks were declared at Chartwell Westmount in William’s retirement home and on the fourth floor of the South Tower of Health Sciences North.

CASE REACHED A HIGH NUMBER OF RECORDS

A total of 558 new confirmed cases between Jan.1 and Jan.4 were reported on Tuesday, bringing the total number of active infections in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts to 1,184. Greater Sudbury alone has 1,041 active COVID-19 infections. A total of 350 previous cases have been resolved during the same period.

“The confirmed cases are an underestimate of the actual number of people with COVID-19 in Sudbury and the districts, as access to PCR tests is increasingly limited, as positive test results rapid antigen are not reported to public health, and the likelihood that people with asymptomatic infections may not request testing, ”the health unit said on its website.

Government of Ontario changed eligibility for PCR testing at the end of December to focus on certain symptomatic people and other priority groups.

In the first four days of the year, 3,918 COVID-19 tests were performed by Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

As of Tuesday evening, Health Sciences North (HSN) had 22 patients with COVID-19, including four in the intensive care unit (ICU), as well as 10 patients previously admitted for COVID-19 who are still being treated and are not. more. positive.

“HSN’s intensive care unit is 88% occupied with 36 out of 41 beds occupied,” the hospital said in a Jan. 4 media report.

“A new provincial directive is being implemented this week to reduce surgeries and elective procedures. Decisions to postpone surgeries are not taken lightly, so as to minimize harm to patients and only to meet demonstrated capacity needs of the healthcare system. HSN expects to move forward. at around 80% of historical surgical volumes this week and next. “