Monday, May 11, 2020
COVID-19 Status as of 3:00 pm:
Tests performed yesterday (Assessment Centre and in Hospital) = 48
Tests Performed total (Assessment Centre and in Hospital) = 2795
Presumptive Cases in Hospital = 14
Total Positive Cases in Hospital = 1
Positive Cases in ICU = 0
Patients in COVID-19 Care Unit = 4
Hospital Occupancy = 73.1%
Today, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds bring
their “Operation Inspiration” to Thunder Bay. The flyover is a salute Canadians
doing their part to fight the spread of COVID-19, including our dedicated staff
and professional staff. If you have a chance to step outside or be near a
window today at approximately 1:45 pm, you will see the Snowbirds’ signature
nine-jet formation. This demonstration reinforces the gratitude Canadians feel
for frontline workers. Thank you for all you do.
Each year, the celebration of Nursing Week draws attention to nurses,
increasing the awareness of the many contributions of nursing to the well-being
of patients and families. During the week of May 11-17, Nursing Week will be
celebrated at our Hospital to recognize the vital contributions nurses make to
the delivery of quality patient care in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern
Ontario. Nurses are vital to our Hospital’s front line response to the COVID-19
pandemic. In addition to their direct patient care roles, many have taken on
additional duties and responsibilities to help protect the health and safety of
the community. Nurses are screening staff and patients at Hospital entrances,
leading the testing at our Hospital’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre, and learning
new skills and techniques to safely work on the dedicated COVID-19 Care Unit.
This week, we encourage the community to join us in celebrating the important
work that nurses do on the frontlines in hospitals, long-term care, public
health and many different organizations, keeping people healthy and caring for
them when they are ill.
With the Victoria Day long weekend approaching, staff and professional staff
are reminded that travel restrictions remain in place. This may be frustrating
for many, and we understand. It’s because of measures like this that
Northwestern Ontario has successfully flattened the COVID-19 curve. Your
ongoing commitment protects the health and safety of all patients, staff,
professional staff, and the community. If you travel anywhere outside of
Northwestern Ontario, you must self-isolate for a period of 14 days upon
return. Staff who choose to travel outside of Northwestern Ontario as of March
30, 2020 will not be compensated by the Hospital for the isolation period.
Travel restrictions will be reviewed and may be adjusted as the provincial
government updates policies. Our ability to ease travel restrictions is also
depended on our capacity for in-house swab testing for COVID-19, which is
currently lower than some other areas of Ontario. If you have questions
regarding travel restrictions, please contact your manager, and Occupational
Health and Safety at 684-6212 or ohs@tbh.net.
In recent weeks, members of the Lakehead University community have demonstrated
support for health care providers in Thunder Bay through PPE collections, the
manufacturing of PPE parts, and related research. Lakehead University and our
Hospital recently signed an agreement to provide temporary accommodations for
hospital staff who need such accommodations outside of their family home. Those
who would like to be considered for offsite accommodation must contact
Occupational Health & Safety. If temporary space is required, Hospital
staff would only be able to use the University apartment building units that
are completely separated from other campus living spaces. This arrangement will
not apply to hospital staff if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or are
deemed highly presumptive as a result of work-related exposure. The University
extends gratitude and appreciation for everything frontline health care workers
are doing to manage this pandemic.
Today is the final day for staff and professional staff to participate in a
survey regarding the impact of and the response to the Hospital’s COVID-19.
Please take five minutes to complete the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/6QM3DMQ.
Responses will shape how our Hospital supports staff and professional staff
immediately and in the future.
Results of COVID-19 swabs performed in the community inform appropriate
infection control measures at our Hospital. Some clerks with admitting
functions will receive training and access to the data, which will be applied
when people are admitted to our Hospital.
All previously issued COVID-19 Daily Situation Reports are available at https://comms.tbrhsc.net/covid-19-information/past-daily-updates/.
Please forward any questions/concerns to your supervisor.
_______________________________________________________________________
For questions about COVID-19 testing criteria, please contact the TBDHU’s
Infectious Disease Program at 807-625-5900 or toll free at 1-888-294-6630.
Local COVID-19 case status: https://www.tbdhu.com/coronavirus
Provincial COVID-19 case status: https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus#section-0
Canada COVID-19 case status: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
COVID-19 Daily Situation Report videos: http://tbrhsc.net/covid-19-information
All Hospital COVID-19 updates are available on the iNtranet at https://comms.tbrhsc.net/covid-19-information/
