'We're extremely nervous': Officials at Manitoulin Health Centre worried as COVID cases rise
There are 14 active cases of COVID 19 on Manitoulin Island as of Thursday.
Officials with the Manitoulin Health Centre say this is the most active cases at one time since the pandemic began.
“We’re extremely nervous that if there is wide spread, community spread of the delta variant in particular, which is quite contagious that this could mean more hospitalizations and make our ability to react and provide care so much more difficult,” says Tim Vine, Manitoulin Health Centre Interim Co-CEO.
While the hospital is ready to take care of COVID patients at both sites in Little Current and Mindemoya as well as its field hospital set up at the local arena, Vine admits the last year and a half is starting to take its toll on staff.
“Vigilance gets tiring and so we’ve got a lot of folks are still being very vigilant are here to support the community and the safety of our patients but are getting quite worn out,” he said.
“Lots of overtime shifts and difficulty booking holidays because of the nursing shortage.”
In total, Manitoulin Island has seen 62 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began and only one person had to be hospitalized.
Vine says stopping the spread continues to be about following public health guidelines.
“We do really want to encourage vigilance within the community. You know people should go and get vaccinated. People should continue to wear a mask when social distancing it’s possible. Continue washing hands,” he continued.
“Limit travel as much as possible. We know that there is the delta variant which is a highly contagious variant transmitting through the population right now and sort of those risk factors can be lowed by you know only going out when necessary, using proper hand hygiene.”
On Wednesday, Wiikwemkoong Chief Duke Peltier issued a warning to residents and visitors of the community of several possible exposures.
This, just one week after the community declared an outbreak.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.