SUDBURY -- The sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in northeastern Ontario has left hospitals preparing for what’s possibly to come.
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, medical officer of health with Public Health Sudbury and Districts said this latest surge in cases is concerning, but there is nothing that can be called an outbreak.
As of Monday, there are 54 active cases in the Sudbury area after a full week of new cases being confirmed every day.
"(It's) a really big jump. This is a huge reminder to all of us about the importance of the fundamental messages about staying home when we’re ill, getting tested and really very important about keeping to our household contacts," said Dr. Sutcliffe
Health experts say most of the recent cases have been in the younger age groups.
"So individuals in their 20s. This is certainly, what we’ve seen in other parts of the province. Starting off in younger age groups and then spilling over into older age groups and ultimately having an impact on our institutions, so key message that this can impact anybody," said Dr. Sutcliffe.
Even though the positive cases are self-isolating at home, Health Sciences North officials said if the number of cases continues to increase and people end up needing to be hospitalized, the hospital is prepared.
"Since wave one of the pandemic, we have developed contingency plans, not only for overall occupancy but for the number of beds in the intensive care unit," said hospital CEO Dominic Giroux. "Those contingency plans are ready and we don’t want to use them."
As of Sunday evening, heath officials in Sault Ste. Marie confirmed eight new cases. As of Monday evening, there are 14 active cases.
Administrators at Sault Area Hospital said they’ve also been preparing for a possible surge.
"We’re still being able to support all of our other care programs for the most part and we're still being able to maintain a capacity for more cases if anyone with COVID did require admission or even a few patients require admission. So yeah, we’re definitely not concerned at the moment, that’s for sure,” said Dr. Lucas Castellani, infectious disease control specialist at Sault Area Hospital.
The message from public health continues to be that the solution is in our individual actions.
The health unit in Sudbury said it will continue to keep an eye out for when it feels more restrictive measures might be needed.
