The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is gearing up for a long season of respiratory illnesses, but officials have not as of yet altered their masking requirements.
With the colder weather upon us, flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases loom.
Caen Suni, vice-president of clinical programs and operations with the CKHA, calls dealing with Covid, the flu and RSV “managing the triple threat.”
“We are preparing the hospital operations for the fall season,” he said. “Our priority right now is being able to maintain our surgical programs.”
Lori Marshall, president and CEO of the CKHA, said hospital personnel are monitoring matters locally and in nearby cities.
“At this stage, we’re reviewing the situation on a daily basis. London has made some changes. Both Windsor and Erie Shores have made some changes,” she said. “We are monitoring what is going on in our hospitals and our community. If and when we start to see more cases and start to see staff that are off ill, we’d look at ramping up our masking.”
Suni said Windsor and London typically see a rise in “triple threat” cases before Chatham-Kent does.
“Regions around Chatham-Kent tend to have increases in their cases a few weeks before we do,” he said. “And we have seen some uptick in those areas.”
Meanwhile, as of Oct. 4, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care London adjusted their masking guidelines.
Officials said it was to better reflect the current health and safety risks as we head into fall respiratory virus season.
Hospital officials in London recommend patients and visitors wear a mask in all clinical areas and care settings when meeting with or speaking directly to a health-care worker.
Patients with a fever or respiratory symptoms are now required to mask up in all clinical and non-clinical settings, except if in an inpatient room or bed space and not receiving direct care with a health-care worker.
Staff at LHSC and St. Joe’s are required to wear masks in inpatient and outpatient clinical settings, including waiting rooms and in LHSC’s emergency department and St. Joseph’s urgent care centre.
Suni said provincial modelling predicts a longer flu season for fall and winter this year, up to 50-per-cent longer.
CKHA officials urge residents to get vaccinated against the flu and Covid.
“We have an internal campaign ensuring our staff have access to vaccines, and it’s something we’d recommend for the public as well,” Suni said.
