The Quinte Health Care Board of Directors has been given an update on how things have changed at the four hospitals since the COVID-19 outbreak began.
Both CEO Mary Clare Egberts and Chief of Staff Dr. Colin MacPherson spoke about preparations for a likely spike in novel coronavirus cases and how to handle them moving forward.
Dr. MacPherson noted that they can’t put a firm number on how many cases they’ll have to deal with, but staff have been looking at the best ways to accommodate patients and keep others safe from being infected as well.
That number of 100 to 150 patients is QHC-wide and includes Trenton Memorial Hospital, Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital and North Hastings Hospital, not just Belleville Belleville General Hospital.
Dr. MacPherson hopes public health practices like social distancing will flatten the curve and that the hospital will ultimately see fewer cases than that.
Quinte Health Care Chief of Staff Dr. Colin MacPherson (Photo: Quinte News / File)
As of Tuesday afternoon there is one patient at Belleville General Hospital who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 and MacPherson says there are also about five people who have been admitted with presumptive cases, but Dr. MacPherson says the likelihood of them testing positive is low.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is reporting five cases in the community, three related to travel and two transmitted by close contact, with a number of other presumed cases Quinte-wide.
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam said Tuesday that 210 passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, who were quarantined at CFB Trenton but are free of the virus, had departed the base.
She added that those passengers who tested positive for COVID-19 and their contacts who may not yet have symptoms and had their quarantine periods reset, will remain at 8 Wing for the time being.
2/2 Passengers who tested positive for #COVID19 & their asymptomatic contacts whose quarantine period was reset will remain at CFB Trenton until their extended release date.
— Dr. Theresa Tam (@CPHO_Canada) March 24, 2020
Dr. MacPherson says as they prepare for the likely rush of cases to come, staff are figuring out how to best accommodate those patients, while limiting the risk of transmission.
He added there is also a chance that staff who are treating COVID-19 patients could become ill, so plans are being put in place to deal with “difficult staffing numbers”, should the situation arise.
Dr. MacPherson also noted a forecast shortage of some much needed safety equipment for healthcare workers including hand sanitizer, masks and other personal protective equipment.
He says while they’re not at that point just yet, the prospect of dealing with a spike in patients with the virus and not having everything they need is frightening.
Speaking to Quinte News after the meeting, CEO Mary Clare Egberts extended her thanks and appreciation to people in the community who have offered to help by making donations, providing food, or by other means.
Both Dr. MacPherson and Egberts took time to praise the staff at all four hospitals for how they have dealt with the COVID-19 situation so far, with Egberts telling Quinte News she’s extremely impressed with how they are handling this “unprecedented moment in history” and preparing for what’s to come.
Quinte Health Care CEO Mary Clare Egberts. (Photo: File / Quinte News)
As the community continues to deal with the pandemic, Dr. MacPherson says he’s “amazed at how society has changed” in the last couple of weeks and is urging everyone to continue social distancing and basic infection control measures.
He added that 85% of people who get the virus will have mild symptoms that they “should be able to work through at home” and don’t need testing or an ER visit, but gave some advice to those whose illness may be getting worse.
Dr. MacPherson also told the board that there are plans for a potential primary assessment site away from the hospital where if patients are experiencing symptoms of the virus, they would be able to call in and make an appointment, then attend the centre for further screening and then a recommended hospital visit if needed.
Egberts says the goal of the assessment centre is to keep potentially infected patients away from emergency rooms, but details are still being worked out.
Moving forward, QHC says staff will continue to monitor and ration equipment and resources and work with the province and the community for help where available.
Dr. MacPherson says there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes and “an incredible degree of camaraderie and cohesion around a common purpose” within the four hospitals.
