The president and CEO of Kirkland Lake's hospital is urging people to follow public health guidance to avoid overwhelming the local hospitals.
Blanche River Health - Kirkland Lake currently has five in-patients who have COVID-19. Each of the patients acquired the virus in the community and are among the more than 20 known active cases in the Kirkland Lake area, according to the hospital.
"The sudden surge in admissions to our hospital is a direct result of the significant increase of COVID-19 cases in the Kirkland Lake area. This situation is placing significant pressure on our hospital resources as we continue to manage what is becoming a serious health care crisis in our local community," said Dr. Mark Spiller, chief of staff, in a news release.
The Kirkland Lake hospital is a 62-bed facility. According to the Blanche River Health website, that includes 41 medical/surgical beds, six ICU beds, and 15 complex continuing care beds.
Full visitor restrictions are in effect at the Kirkland Lake and Englehart sites of the hospital. People having to go to one of the facilities for outpatient or emergency care are asked to limit the number or people accompanying them.
Several alternate-level-of-care patients from Kirkland Lake are being transferred to Englehart, where there are 30 beds (16 acute care and 14 complex continuing care). According to the news release, a similar measure was done during the spring of 2020 in the first wave of COVID-19.
"Additionally, it is further enhancing internal separations among inpatient zones by activating additional bed capacity on another floor of its hospital in Kirkland Lake," reads the news release.
To date, there have been 65 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Timiskaming Health Unit district. There are 23 known active cases.
In December the region has more than tripled its COVID-19 cases. There have been 47 positive tests so far.
The last case was reported Dec. 28. It is a person in the Kirkland Lake area who is self-isolating.
There are currently two potential exposure advisories in effect for Kirkland Lake.
One is for people who used A1 Taxi during the specified times Dec. 19, 20 or 21.
People who were at a Christmas dinner event at the Encore Club Dec. 19 also may have been exposed to the virus.
Blanche River Health president and CEO Sean Conroy thanks the residents and businesses who have supported the public health measures to slow the spread of the virus.
"Our main concern is those who do not follow the COVID-19 measures and pose a greater risk to our most vulnerable residents — the elderly and others with significant health care issues — who are ending up in our hospitals. Given the ongoing rise in cases, it is essential that all public health measures be followed to help avoid overwhelming our hospitals," said Conroy in the news release.
