Hamilton hospitals get approval to resume services postponed by COVID-19

Hamilton's hospitals have received provincial approval to resume surgeries and other care postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton will begin a phased approach to bringing back services, starting with those who have the most urgent needs, according to a joint media release.

"Both organizations are eager to move ahead with our respective plans," it reads.

"Patients who are identified as having urgent needs will be contacted by their hospital or family doctor's office to reschedule their appointment or procedure."

St. Joe's is set to bring back services starting Friday, according to a memo to staff from interim chief of staff David Russell and chief nursing executive Winnie Doyle.

"We look forward to resuming these services to patients who have been waiting for care, but we must do so in a way that recognizes the pandemic is not over, and plans for the potential of a surge in COVID-19 patients," it reads.

Both hospitals plan to gradually ramp up surgical services by up to 20 per cent in the coming weeks, along with ambulatory care.

St. Joe's notes "universal masking," screening and creating an environment where physical distancing is possible will be key to increasing in-person visits, which are expected to rise between 10 and 15 per cent.

In his memo to staff HHS CEO Rob MacIsaac points out the hospital's plan, which was approved by Ontario Health, was informed by input from the hospital's patient and family advisory committee.

He added HHS will continue to monitor the situation including "careful daily evaluation of the care needs of patients waiting for a procedure or appointment."

The gradual approach is meant to help the hospitals stay flexible in terms of their response to the virus, and both hospitals say they will maintain a 15 per cent surge capacity for patients with COVID-19 while continuing to build on the virtual care they began ramping up during the pandemic.

"We appreciate the patience and support of our patients and community as we begin to resume some services at our hospitals," the release adds.

10 more recover from virus

There are a total of 661 cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton as of Wednesday (653 confirmed and eight probable).

Ten more people in the city have recovered from COVID-19 the virus for a total of 436, about 66 per cent of the total number of cases.

One more person has been hospitalized because of the virus, raising the number of people cared for in hospital during the pandemic to 132.

Sixty-one people are currently in hospital — 31 at Hamilton Health Sciences and 30 at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.

Six institutional outbreaks are also happening in the city.

Brant

One more person in Brant has recovered from COVID-19 as of Wednesday, brining that total to 94 so far.

The county is reporting 108 cases of the virus, the same number as the previous day. Three people are in hospital and four have died.

Haldimand-Norfolk

Haldimand and Norfolk counties held steady at 216 lab-confirmed cases Wednesday, after six more people had tested positive since the beginning of the week.

Ninety-six people have recovered from the virus, while 31 have died.

A breakdown of local statistics provided by health officials shows the majority of cases continue to be female, at 68 per cent, while people between the ages of 80 and 90-plus make up about 36 per cent of the total.

Niagara

No new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Niagara Wednesday, following a Tuesday that saw just one new case added to its tally.

The region is reporting a total of 634 cases, but only 53 are active. Fifty-nine people have died, while 522 cases are considered resolved.

Statistics show just over 81 per cent of people who have died of the virus in Niagara were residents of retirement or long-term care homes.

Nearly 23 per cent of cases are health-care workers. Eight outbreaks are ongoing at health-care faciltieis in the region.

Halton

Sixteen more people in Halton have recovered from the novel coronavirus for a total of 547 so far.

The region has a total of 698 cases as of Wednesday, of which 623 are confirmed and 75 probable.

Burlington accounts for 135 of those cases and 106 recoveries.

Two institutional outbreaks are also ongoing at long-term care homes in the city. One resident at the Brant Centre has tested positive, along with two at Creek Way Village.

Twenty-five people in the region have died of the virus, according to statistics shared on the region's website.

Six Nations

Six Nations of the Grand River currently has two active cases of COVID-19, bringing the total of confirmed cases there to 13. One member of the First Nation has died of the virus.