Due to rising COVID-19 cases in Ontario and record numbers of the virus reported each day, St. Joseph's General Hospital CEO Pierre Ozolins wants to stress the importance of continued safety measures by residents:
1. Wear a mask when out in public to help protect others and yourself,
2. If you are sick, stay home,
3. Wash your hands often,
4. Refrain from touching your face,
5. Maintain a distance of two meters (six feet) from others when out, and
6. Limit your travel, limit your bubble.
“St. Joseph's General Hospital Elliot Lake has implemented enhanced screening procedures for COVID-19 at the main entrance of the hospital. You will be asked about cough, shortness of breath and fever symptoms. You are advised not to attend the hospital if you have any of these symptoms,” Ozolins said.
“As well as screening all entrants to our buildings, we limit visits, promote the wearing of masks, vigorous handwashing and maintain physical distancing. Should we have an outbreak here in Elliot Lake, we have plans in place to ramp up.
“The goal remains to help limit the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. We have been very lucky here in the north with limited infections, however Sudbury is now showing signs of outbreak,” he said.
“If we overwhelm the healthcare system, people will die from ailments that they would normally survive from. During this pandemic, if an outbreak occurs, there may not be the needed resources—healthcare human resources, drugs, bed availability—in order to treat these other ailments, since all the resources are being used to treat people with COVID. If you love your healthcare system and want it to be there when you need it, follow the six points above.
“We are not prepared to handle any outbreak. We are prepared, but if people ignore the six points and the pandemic rages through the community, we will overwhelm available resources and people will die from COVID and needlessly die from otherwise treatable ailments. There is a clear choice for members of the public. Do your civic duty…or there will be a whole lot of pain and misery for Christmas,” he added.