Mask and vax: Hamilton Health Sciences urges diligence as staff shortages persist
Published April 1, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Hamilton’s largest health-care provider is urging the community to keep donning their masks as it struggles to navigate the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a series of Tweets shared Friday (April 1), Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) called on city residents to keep up public health recommendations to help curb the spread of the virus as hospitals are, once again, starting to feel the impacts of the pandemic’s latest wave.
“Our hospitals and healthcare workers have only just begun to feel some relief from the last wave, and yet we’re already facing another,” HHS said in the thread.
“We’re seeing an increase in the number of staff and physicians isolating at home due to COVID infection or exposure (296 today, up from ~200 two weeks ago). This is a reflection of increased COVID transmission in our community.”
THREAD 🧵: As predicted, we're beginning to see a rebound of COVID cases as restrictions ease across the province. 1/9
— Hamilton Health Sciences (@HamHealthSci) April 1, 2022
According to Hamilton Public Health Services data posted to the City of Hamilton website, the city is seeing a resurgence in the transmission of the virus.
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Earlier this week, the head of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table told news sources that the province is currently in the middle of the pandemic’s sixth wave, suggesting that it is a result of the province’s easing of restrictions.
Masking requirements remain in place in settings considered ‘high risk,’ which includes hospitals and long-term care homes, but by the end of the month, the Ford government plans to drop those and practically all remaining public health guidelines to reduce transmission.
For the time being, COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Hamilton remain relatively low, HHS said, but given the rise in cases and the return to pre-pandemic clinical services, resources are becoming strained and could be strained further.
“We are gradually increasing clinical activity, however, our sites and programs also continue to deal with staff shortages and capacity challenges,” the thread said.
“Please help minimize the burden of wave six on our community’s health resources and the immunocompromised by continuing to wear your mask, getting vaccinated, and keeping your social bubble tight. If you’re sick, stay home.”
More information about Hamilton Health Sciences can be found on the health-care provider’s website and more information about COVID-19 in the City of Hamilton can be found here.
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