Eastern Ontario hospitals short-staffed because of COVID-19 spread
Hospitals say they're feeling impact of new, highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant
Hospitals throughout eastern Ontario say they are facing staff shortages as COVID restrictions lift and community transmission increases.
At the Kingston Health Sciences Centre, almost 200 of their 6,000 staff are currently off work sick or isolating, according to president and CEO David Pichora.
Pichora said he believes community transmission is to blame.
"If you look at what's happening in our community and with sewage wastewater testing, it's no surprise that we would have significant staff infection rates acquired in the community," he said.
Those local coronavirus wastewater levels have recently risen to record-highs in some sites.
While the hospital itself maintains masking requirements, Pichora said it's hard to reduce staff exposures when those measures aren't required outside the hospital in public places.
Pichora said he hopes no further restrictions will be lifted until health-care facilities are able to adequately respond to the sixth wave. All Ontario COVID-19 rules are scheduled to lift in two weeks.
"Certainly from the hospital's perspective, we're really not ready to move forward," he said.
Masking may no longer be required many places, but Pichora said he is asking community members to wear masks in public places to help protect health-care staff "who are stretched and tired."
"We'd certainly like people to wear masks out in the community when they're going into a store or a restaurant or whatever," said Pichora. "It may not be mandatory anymore, but that doesn't mean it isn't prudent."
Most importantly, KHSC staff have stepped up in every way imaginable. They are working overtime and caring for more patients each shift. But after two years they’re burnt out. We continue to recruit, hire and train new staff every day, but it’s not enough. We need your help.
—@KingstonHSCOttawa hospitals also struggling
Kingston isn't the only city feeling the impact of the new, highly transmissible variant.
Multiple Ottawa hospitals told CBC they were struggling to stay fully staffed.
Emergency Dept volumes are historically-high, inpatient admissions comparable to a busy viral season.<br>But we are short-staffed - 144 isolating at home today due to Covid contracted at home or in the community. <br>We recommend you 😷💉+ limit contacts so you don't need to come here.
—@AlexMunterThe Ottawa Hospital said in a statement it is experiencing "staffing level challenges" that can fluctuate when employees have to isolate or call in sick.
The Montfort Hospital said in a statement 92 staff members are currently isolating due to COVID — approximately twice the amount seen earlier this year. According to the hospital, staffing shortages are related to the increase in community transmission.
Ottawa's coronavirus wastewater average is about three times higher than the previous record in January 2022.
Pembroke having to move staff around
Pembroke Regional Hospital CEO Pierre Noel said the past few weeks have been some of the most challenging times of the entire pandemic. As restrictions ease, he said they are seeing more staff infections then ever before.
Noel says the hospital is now missing about 10 per cent of its employees on any given day. Currently, there are almost 100 staff either isolating or infected.
"Ready or not, we're in the sixth wave," said Noel. "And we've been experiencing this for weeks now."
Noel said the staffing shortages prevalent across the hospital system in Ontario are "reflective of the fact that the current variant is so transmissible and widespread."
Part of the reason health-care workers are so impacted by increases in transmission, Noel said, is because they're required to isolate longer than the general public.
While fully vaccinated people over 12 have to isolate for five days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms, hospital employees and others working in highest-risk settings have to isolate for ten days following symptom onset.
"Highest risk settings" include hospitals, complex continuing care facilities, and congregate living settings.
Noel said the hospital was planning to ramp up surgical procedures again — but with staffing issues, they can't always allot the required staff for some less urgent areas.
"That means on occasion, moving staff from one area of the hospital to an area that's in critical need."