THUNDER BAY —The number of patients at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre infected with the COVID-19 virus continues to follow a recent upward trend, and has reached its highest level since February 2022.
The hospital issued updated data Wednesday showing there are currently 46 patients admitted to the hospital who have tested positive, five fewer than in February.
Two of these individuals are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.
The number of patients with COVID-19 has risen each week since early December when there were only 18 cases.
One week later there were 20 cases, and the week after that there were 32.
There's currently one confirmed COVID-19 outbreak in the hospital, in the forensic mental health inpatient unit, which was declared on Dec. 20.
On Dec. 23, the hospital raised its internal pandemic response level from orange (restrict) to red (control). Officials said the decision was based on an increased level of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory virus within the community.
On Dec. 12, the hospital dropped its internal pandemic response level from red to orange, citing at that time a decrease in COVID activity.
There are minimal changes between the two levels, but under the red level traffic through the hospital is reduced.
Masking and screening guidelines remain in place for anyone entering the hospital.
In a related development Wednesday, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and St. Joseph’s Care Group announced that a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Hogarth Riverview Manor, in the Spruce Grove resident area on the first floor.
The health unit reported last week that, based on local evidence and indicators, COVID-19 continues to circulate.
It said lab-confirmed case numbers and hospitalization have increased recently, but signs of the virus in the wastewater system and the number of outbreaks in the community have been stable.
