Timmins hospital dealing with high numbers of people with respiratory illnesses
The Timmins and District Hospital's assessment clinic has been busy seeing people with respiratory illnesses.
“We’re seeing in the community for sure higher volume of kids and adults with respiratory type illnesses," said Doctor Chris Clark, medical lead for the Timmins and District Hospital's Assessment Clinic.
"The other thing that’s going on is limited access to medications for parents to treat kids with Advil or Tylenol in the community, some antibiotics are short in the community so it’s just a bit of a perfect storm."
The assessment clinic is located across the road from the hospital at 651 Ross Ave. East and is open seven days a week. A physician is on-site in the mornings.
Anyone over the age of two, especially those with a family physician, can book a test at the clinic.
“We can swab here for strep throat, for RSV, for influenza, for COVID,” said Clark.
“And we also want people to come here to seek treatment for COVID if they’re at high risk whether they're compromised or unvaccinated or have significant co-existing disease.”
The assessment clinic has seen 74 people since testing began on Nov. 21. Officials said people can avoid long waits in the emergency room by making an appointment at the clinic.
“Our volumes are up 20, 25 to 30 per cent over where we were pre-COVID and probably there’s a quarter of all the presentations of people coming in with respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throats," said Jodie Russell, manager of infection prevention and control for Timmins and District Hospital.
“So that's atypical for us at this time of year.”
While Russell and Clark want people to get help as quickly as possible, the Porcupine Health Unit is promoting prevention.
"So really recommending indoor mask use, so when you're in a large crowd or gathering, to wear a mask, especially around children and people that are more vulnerable," said Lynn Leggett, manager of infectious diseases and clinical services.
Leggett said the health unit has also added more flu vaccine clinics at its Pine Street office location.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.