COVID-related hospitalizations are rising in the Simcoe Muskoka region, and, moreso, in the province, which could mean more patient transfers to some of the region’s larger hospitals.
According to the province’s health experts, the latest increase in hospitalizations and case rates are indicators of the third wave of the pandemic in Ontario.
In Simcoe-Muskoka, cases have plateaued in a saw-tooth (up and down) pattern for a few weeks ranging between 200 and 300 cases per week. Hospitalizations are up (16 reported since Friday), but COVID fatalities are down (two reported since Friday).
“It’s a great blessing that we’ve had a dramatic reduction in mortality. I would attribute that to vaccination,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
Nearly every resident living in a long-term care or retirement home has received a COVID vaccination, as have many of the staff.
“That has finally created the ring of protection we needed for that very vulnerable sector of people,” said Gardner. “What remains, of course, is a great many people who are vulnerable in the community.”
Though the number of deaths reported by the province each day has decreased since the second wave, hospitalizations are back up to similar levels seen at the height of the last wave.
Simcoe-Muskoka hospitalizations haven’t reached second-wave levels yet, but are trending upward.
On January 19, 2021, Ontario reported 400 COVID patients in intensive care units (with 1,626 people hospitalized). There were 292 COVID-positive patients on ventilators at that time. At the beginning of the last lockdown (Dec. 26, 2020) there were 755 COVID-positive patients hospitalized, with 286 of them in intensive care units and 187 on ventilators.
Today, the province reported 396 COVID-positive patients in intensive care units, 1,111 hospitalized and 252 on ventilators.
According to a briefing note published this week from the Ontario government’s science table, 67 per cent of the province’s COVID infections are variant strains.
“We certainly are aware the variants of concern appear to be more transmissible, affecting people more severely at a younger age,” said Gardner.
Today marked the seventh consecutive day the province reported case counts in the 2,000s, which hasn’t happened since January.
In a CBC report, GTA physicians said they’re seeing COVID patients during the third wave who are younger and sicker.
As Gardner acknowledged the steep increase in Ontario cases and hospitalizations, he said Simcoe Muskoka region hospitals will be called on for help again.
“It was certainly important in the second wave,” said Gardner.
There are 32 Simcoe County residents currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 16 of which are new hospitalizations reported since Friday. Of those hospitalized, nine are in intensive care units. The patients range in age from their 20s to their 90s.
Local hospitals that started taking transfer patients from GTA hospitals running out of capacity during the second wave are still receiving patients from regions to the south of Simcoe County.
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) set up a field hospital early in the pandemic and has regularly been taking in patients from outside of the Barrie area.
“To date we have accepted 93 patients from the GTA, in fact we accepted two COVID-19 positive patients this week from Etobicoke and Mississauga,” stated Dana Naylor, chief of patient flow for RVH in an email. “We have also cared for 11 patients transferred from two of our regional hospitals – Stevenson Memorial in Alliston and Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland.”
According to Naylor, the patients transferred to RVH have come from Credit Valley, Brampton Vicit, Etobicoke, Southlake, Markham Stouffville, Mackenzie Health and Mississauga hospitals.
“At this time, we have four transferred-in patients with three of those being in the intensive care unit and one on our respiratory unit,” said Naylor. “Of those four, three are COVID-19 positive.”
A spokesperson confirmed Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital has had COVID-positive patients transferred from southern Ontario hospitals both during the second and third waves.
Because those transfer numbers were “low” the spokesperson declined to be more specific about transfer patient information.
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) also set up a field hospital inside the Collingwood Legion hall. By December, the alternative health facility was open with 18 beds activated for patients requiring transitional care before being transferred to rehabilitation, long-term care, retirement home or other post acute care services.
Lisa van Kolfschoten, communications officer for CGMH said the alternative health facility is still in use for the same type of care.
The CGMH accepted three out-of-region patient transfers in the second wave.
The CGMH catchment area includes Grey Highlands, The Blue Mountains, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, and Clearview Township. There are small hospitals in Markdale and Meaford also serving eastern Grey County.
-With files from Ray Bowe and Dave Dawson
