Region's hospitals keeping close tabs on COVID-19

North Simcoe’s primary healthcare centres remain vigilant in light of the region’s first positive COVID-19 case.

Georgian Bay General Hospital president and CEO Gail Hunt said the facility has a number of systems in place to ensure staff, patients and visitors are properly protected.

“The safety of our patients, staff, credentialed staff and volunteers is our top priority,” Hunt said. “GBGH continues to participate in regular meetings with public health, as well as community and hospital partners to ensure GBGH is on top of and strictly following the latest protocols and safety directives.”

The story’s much the same in Penetanguishene at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.

“Waypoint is well-prepared and we can assure you that our hospital has safety precautions in place for staff, physicians, volunteers, patients and visitors,” said Laurene Hilderley, Waypoint’s communications and fund development director.

Hilderley said that along with their routine practices for managing situations such as flu outbreaks, Waypoint has implemented additional precautions and measures in response to COVID-19.

“Any patients being admitted are screened for travel history and symptoms of illness, and community staff are utilizing screening processes before visiting clients,” she said, noting travel screening criteria has also been updated to include all travel in the past 14 days.

“We have appropriate processes and precautions in place for patients with acute respiratory symptoms who recently travelled or have been in contact with a person who has travelled. Our infection prevention and control procedures and practices are robust with ongoing training and support.”

On Thursday, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reminded people to be vigilant to avoid spreading the virus after announcing a Barrie man in his 40s had become the region’s first positive coronavirus case.

According to Dr. Charles Gardner, the health unit’s medical officer of health, the man became ill after a recent trip from Germany and Spain and checked into Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) where he was tested on Monday.

Test results came back Thursday morning and he is now self-isolating and recovering at home. The Barrie hospital took all necessary infection and control measures for COVID-19, officials said.

As for GBGH, Hunt said the regional hospital continues to maintain additional screening precautions to ensure the safety of patients, staff, credentialed staff and volunteers.

“Our internal steering committee for COVID-19 is meeting on a weekly basis and has already performed several mock scenarios over the past month,” she said, pointing out GBGH remains very safe for patients and visitors.

“Our hospital remains open, and clinics and procedures continue to operate as normal. We have a highly skilled, trained and capable team and our preparedness plans are robust.”

Hilderley said Waypoint has adequate personal protective equipment and the necessary facilities (such as negative pressure rooms) to contain spread.

As well, she noted Waypoint has clear signage posted throughout the hospital for screening while visitors and others are also advised not to come to the hospital if they are ill through Waypoint’s entrance sign, website and social media.

“We have restricted all work-related travel outside Canada,” she said. “We are also working closely with our staff to advise on personal travel and return to work.”

As well, meetings and gatherings are now limited to 30 people or less.

“Enhanced cleaning is in place for busy areas including our entrances,” she said, noting Waypoint’s ‘Trauma in the Workplace’ final product launch slated for Monday has been cancelled as a precaution.

“Waypoint has also initiated its Emergency Response Plan, which includes daily meetings to ensure we are prepared.”

Symptoms of coronavirus that may appear two to 14 days after exposure are fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Gardner, meanwhile, said the health unit is investigating to determine where exactly the area man has been since his return from Europe and the doctor hopes to have those details out to the public as soon as possible.

“The possibility exists in the future for this to transmit readily in our community. We don't have evidence of that happening right now,” said Gardner. “We have had evidence of that happening potentially in the city of Toronto, with a case that was reported out of Sudbury.

“Although this is our first case here, this has been anticipated because of the unfolding of this pandemic,” he said. “People should be aware of the potential for transmission and exercise practices to protect themselves.”

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario reached 59 as of Thursday afternoon, with the worldwide number being more than 133,00 and, of those global cases, 4,949 resulting in death.

Tests being done will require people to get swabs of their throat and back of the nose. The protocol for anyone who tests positive is for them to remain in isolation until they've had two negative tests for the virus.

-with files from Shawn Gibson