Waterloo Wellington Hospital Capacity Report (Omicron Wave) - February 18, 2022
Waterloo Region & Wellington County | February 18, 2022 – Attached is the Waterloo Wellington COVID Report for Friday, February 18, 2022 that local hospitals have committed to jointly providing weekly.
The Region of Waterloo’s wastewater signal remains high, but the good news is that it is on the decline. Across Waterloo Wellington hospitals we also continue to see a decline in the number of patients in our care with COVID-19, from 86 last Friday to 70 today. With fewer staff impacted by COVID-19, hospitals have begun a phased approach to resuming nonurgent and non-emergent surgeries and procedures this week, beginning first with day surgeries and diagnostic procedures.
Currently, local hospitals are ranging between 54% to 92% of surgeries resumed in this first week since Directive 2.0 was rescinded, compared to pre-pandemic (2019) levels. As we work towards our first collective goal of 70% of surgeries resumed, key indicators will be closely monitored including a continued decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations, sufficient medical and critical care bed capacity, current outbreaks, and staffing levels. We will also work to smooth capacity together, transferring patients as needed. This system-of-care approach will ensure that as we move through each phase of ramp-up, hospitals will do so at the same time providing services equitably across our communities.
“It is good to be in a position to resume some surgery and imaging this week,” says Lee Fairclough, Regional Hospital Lead for COVID response and President, St. Mary’s General Hospital. “Though it will be gradual given the ongoing prevalence of COVID-19 circulating in the community and patients still hospitalized for COVID-19, it’s a start for those that have been waiting for this care. Thank you for the ongoing support of the community as we continue through this pandemic.”
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