Sudden surge in COVID-19 patients forces North Bay hospital to cancel some surgeries
A sudden increase in the number of people entering hospital because of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours has filled almost all available beds at North Bay Regional Health Centre.
The dramatic increase – eight people – has filled all beds set aside for COVID-19 patients. All of those suffering from the disease are from the area, the hospital said in a statement Tuesday.
"The health centre has enacted the final stage of its COVID-19 bed plan, which is triggered when all of our designated COVID-19 beds are full," the hospital said.
"This increase in COVID-19 patients, combined with our existing bed pressures, means our hospital will have to increase measures to protect and preserve our hospital’s capacity to provide acute care. This could include patients being moved to unconventional spaces such as a sunroom."
Effective Tuesday, all surgeries requiring a hospital stay have been postponed.
"The postponement of these surgeries will be assessed on a weekly basis," the hospital said. "Outpatient surgeries will continue as well as confirmed cancer cases."
Patients with existing surgeries and appointments will be contacted directly by the hospital. Patients can still attend scheduled outpatient appointments and our emergency department remains open.
"In an emergency, please don’t hesitate or delay receiving care," the hospital said. "Our health centre is prepared to safely provide care to all our patients."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.