THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has a record 51 COVID-19 case admitted to hospital.
Of those, 14 are in the intensive care unit.
The rise in cases at the hospital will have an effect on surgery schedule, with many patients facing a longer wait as a result.
“Due to the increase in admitted patients who are COVID-19 positive, as well as positive cases in the community, effective immediately, surgical services will focus on outpatient and emergent inpatient procedures only,” reads a release issued on Monday by the hospital’s communications staff.
“This measure ensures capacity at our hospital. Please note that outpatient endoscopies will continue. We will endeavour to reschedule non-emergent inpatient procedures in a timely manner when the current surge subsides.”
The hospital did not say how many surgeries would be affected.
It appears as many as 15 of the patients admitted to the hospital, which has a COVID-19 isolation unit designed for up to 36 people, come from outside the Thunder Bay District.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit on Monday reported 36 people hospitalized and 10 people in intensive care, indicating that 15 patients and four intensive care patients reside outside the TBDHU’s catchment area.
The hospital’s current occupancy rate is 85 per cent.
