NORTH BAY -- Temporary accommodations will be provided for front line workers looking to self-isolate during the pandemic, thanks to a partnership between Nipissing University and the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBHRC).
Dr. Mike DeGagné, the President and Vice-Chancellor says the university has been looking for ways they can help.
"As a university, we have been seeking ways to serve our community during this time and are pleased that we are able to assist in providing a safe space for health care workers to get some much needed rest while keeping their families and our community safe," said DeGagné.
Through his conversations with the NBRHC, DeGagné said they noticed one thing front line workers really needed was accommodations.
Since students are moving out of the residence buildings, it made sense for them to be repurposed to support the city's front line workers.
Over 100 rooms, with private bathrooms, have been made available in the Founders House building as well as 8 rooms in the Monastery Building.
"We are grateful for this generous donation at this critical time," said Tammy Morrison, president and CEO of the NBRHC.
Morrison believes it will help to keep the community safe.
"I think that we certainly have to take every precaution possible to make sure that we have the staff and the positions to care for our community. Certainly we're doing quite well in our current state, but should we experience a surge or a higher volume of patients for any given reason, we want to make sure that we have the staff and the positions to care for those individuals."
The university has been helping the Health Centre from the start of the pandemic, according to DeGagné.
"We had decided when the pandemic was first sort of unfolding that we had an obligation to our community and we were pleased to sort of try to find a partnership with the North Bay Regional Health Centre."
