B.C. to reopen emergency centres once used for COVID surge amid nasty flu season
Posted: Jan. 6, 2023 12:30PMB.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses while responding to questions during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. The province says it is reopening 20 hospital emergency operations centres originally set up to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in anticipation of a surge in respiratory illnesses.
Health Minister Adrian Dix says hospitals have been seeing an unprecedented increase in demand in the health care system due to a significantly bad flu season. He added that it is common to see people seeking medical care and surgeries ramp up again in January following a slowdown over the holidays. The centres will open Monday, Jan. 9 to provide a coordinated response during the high-demand period and will remain open for at least six weeks.Leadership teams will review bed availability and identify solutions to ease emergency department congestion, said Dix. The emergency centres will also support patients ready to be discharged from hospital to transition out of care. The centres will be activated at 20 hospitals across the province, including Vancouver General, Abbotsford Regional, Royal Columbian in Kamloops, and on the Island, Victoria General, Royal Jubilee and Nanaimo General.Sign up for our newsletter to get breaking news and daily digests sent to your email.In the meantime the province is asking residents to help ease the burden on the health-care system by getting vaccinated, staying home when sick and following public health guidelines. Those with life-threatening symptoms should go to the emergency department, while non-emergency concerns can be addressed at a care provider or walk-in clinic. Urgent same-day care can be sought at an urgent and primary care center, and unsure individuals can call 811 for advice.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NEW PANDEMIC WAVE: Immune evasive COVID subvariant in Ottawa wastewaterOttawa is experiencing the start of another pandemic wave that likely includes cases of the highly contagious XBB.1.5 subvariant, according to one of the city\u0027s leading wastewater researchers.
Read more »
COVID-19 outbreak declared in part of St. Joseph's HospitalRead the full story and comment on Tbnewswatch.com
Read more »
Video: Queues at morgues as China condemns traveler COVID curbsGlobal health officials tried to determine the facts of China's raging COVID-19 outbreak and how to prevent a further spread as the Communist Party's mouthpiece newspaper on Wednesday rallied citizens for a 'final victory' over the virus.
Read more »
COVID-19: 4 new deaths in twice-weekly update; COVID, RSV levels risingOttawa (Reported Friday, last update Tuesday)
Read more »
B.C. to reopen 20 hospital emergency operations centres amid surge in illnessesThe British Columbia government will reopen 20 hospital emergency operations centres set up for COVID-19 to deal with an expected surge in flu, respiratory illness and COVID cases.
Read more »