Local public health departments are preparing for a new season of respiratory illnesses as fall weather continues and people are expected to spend more time indoors.
Grand River Hospital has already seen an increase in respiratory illnesses and a high volume of patient visits to its emergency department.
“At Grand River Hospital, we have had a number of recent days with over 100% occupancy. The large number of patients we have seen over the past few weeks has forced patient care to take place in unusual spaces and hallways. Sometimes it didn’t happen,” Bonnie Kamm, executive vice president of clinical services, said in an email.
Hospitals are asking residents to only come to the emergency department in case of serious illness or injury.
Last year’s flu season saw the highest number of reported influenza cases in five years, with 571 cases reported by Waterloo Region Public Health Emergency Medical Services.
From Waterloo Region Statistics, Integrated Public Health Information System.
In the first two seasons of the pandemic, the number of influenza cases declined sharply. But the numbers quickly returned to pre-pandemic levels.
“Influenza was an outlier in some ways last year as many precautions were lifted and the effects of COVID-19 were still lingering, but it’s hard to know what will happen this year.”・David Aoki, director of sexual health and harm, said: He said there would be a reduction in the Waterloo region.
So far this season, three cases of influenza have been reported in the region, and RSV cases remain low, he said. However, it tends to increase from November to May.
“There are a lot of factors involved: how well our population is vaccinated, whether the vaccines are very well matched to the strains that are circulating, and how well we protect ourselves. It also depends on whether they are protecting themselves or not,” Aoki said.
Medical experts said normal health guidelines apply to stay safe, including proper hand washing and wearing a mask when sick.
“If you’re sick, stay home. If you’re sick, it’s best not to spread the illness to others at work. The same goes for your children. Although we don’t like our children to miss school,” , school is the perfect place to spread it and bring it back to other families,” Aoki said.
When it comes to COVID-19 infections in the community, public health officials said cases are increasing. As of Thursday, 128 new coronavirus cases were reported in the region. 3,397 cases have been reported so far this season. Last year, there were 27,875 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region, of which 505 had fatal outcomes.
Over the past 90 days, the number of coronavirus cases has increased. As of July 10, 2023, the region had an average of 0.2 cases per 100,000 people; as of October 5, 2023, the region had an average of 3 cases per 100,000 people. I am. Additionally, there are currently 10 COVID-19 outbreaks in high-risk settings, including six long-term care and nursing homes, two congregate care facilities, and two hospitals. will appear.
Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph’s associate medical officer of health, said Thursday: “COVID-19 is here. That’s why it’s so important that we reflect and think through the measures available to us.” he said.
Health experts have said some high-risk people are already able to get the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines and may be able to check with their GP. All residents are encouraged to get vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available to everyone at the end of the month.
