COVID-19, flu outbreaks reported in Sudbury long-term care homes

Sudbury-area care homes face Covid-19, flu outbreaks, hospitalizations and strain on the emergency room. Health officials urge vaccines, masks and isolation.

Sudbury’s health unit is reporting several COVID-19 and influenza outbreaks at long-term care homes across the city.

“We are seeing about seven of our long-term care homes and retirement homes that are in respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Mustafa Hirji, medical officer of health with Public Health Sudbury and Districts.

“Some are influenza, some are COVID-19. That is definitely higher than we would see, for example, sometime during the summer. And unfortunately, we probably will see that ramped up over the next few weeks.”

Outbreaks have been reported at Extendicare Countryside, St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre-South Bay Road, Elizabeth Centre-Home Area and Lasalle Residence.

At Manitoulin Centennial Manor – Lower Lever, the type of respiratory illness is currently unknown.

Hirji said flu season has arrived a bit earlier than normal.

“We are heading for probably the peak of our flu season to unfortunately be around the holiday time,” he said.

“Which is unfortunately a time when lots of us will be gathering with each other and there’ll be lots of opportunity for that virus to spread.”

While it’s normal to see outbreaks during this time of year, he is still concerned.

“I’m not at the level of concern where I think it is worse than we would see during the peak of another flu season, so I’m not particularly concerned about it this year more than other years,” Hirji said.

“But I’m always concerned.”

Hospital admissions ‘very high’

At Health Sciences North, new influenza admissions are listed as ‘very high,’ according to the health unit’s respiratory illness surveillance dashboard, which could cause extended wait times.

“The current state in our hospital, just like most of other a lot of other hospitals around the province, we are seeing the usual increased presentations for these illnesses,” said Dr. Jeffrey Middaugh, HSN’s emergency physician and medical director of the emergency department.

Middaugh said the hospital is struggling with capacity issues. He said that presents unique challenges when the emergency room sees upwards of 200 people a day.

“We operate at overcapacity on a regular basis, which results in patients being boarded within the emergency department,” he said.

Important to be kind

“So that means a patient who’s been admitted to hospital, who should otherwise be getting care on an inpatient floor, ends up having to stay within the emergency department for their care upwards of 36 to 48 hours at times.”

While wait times might be extended, Middaugh is urging all visitors to the hospital to be kind.

“We are fully aware that you are waiting a long time to see a physician, and we are doing our best to follow as many people as we possibly can through our emergency department,” he said.

“By being kind to the nursing staff, the allied health care staff, the support staff, it goes a long way in helping maintain that relationship that is required to provide the best possible patient care.”

Hirji strongly recommends that everyone catch up on their vaccines -- and to stay home if you’re sick.

“(Vaccines) are free. They make a difference. You know, they’re not 100 per cent unfortunately,” he said.

“But they really do make a difference in preventing severe illness and preventing us from passing these infections on to others who might be more vulnerable than us.”