Dear friends and neighbours of Haliburton County,
As the situation in the healthcare sector continues to change rapidly, we want to keep you up to date on what is happening at HHHS and how you can help us all stay safe.
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Public Health Measures – More Important Than Ever
As we are now starting to see the impact of the Omicron with rising hospitalizations across Ontario, I can’t stress enough the importance of taking all precautions possible to keep yourself, your family, and our community safe.
By now, you know the importance of wearing masks in public spaces, physical/social distancing, reducing your contact with people outside your household, and diligent hand washing. If you have been doing that all along – thank you and keep it up! If not – now is a great time to start.
I also want to emphasize the importance of vaccinations against COVID-19, and particularly booster doses. Data continues to show that vaccinations help protect against severe illness and the need to be hospitalized or admitted into ICU wards. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself. The HKPR District Health Unit, along with dedicated staff and community volunteers, have been working hard to create more appointments in our community. Visit covid-19.ontario.ca to book your appointment today.
What To Do If You Think You May Have COVID-19
If you suspect you may have COVID-19 because you are experiencing one or more symptoms, have received a positive result on a rapid antigen test, have been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected positive case, or are a household contact with someone who has symptoms, public health guidance now directs that you self-isolate.
Specific guidance about how long to isolate and other steps to take are available on the HKPR District Health Unit website at www.hkpr.on.ca or at Ontario.ca/exposed.
Testing for COVID-19
At this time, the Ontario government is asking members of the general public who suspect they have COVID-19 to not seek PCR testing, as there is limited capacity. Testing is now limited to high-risk individuals who are symptomatic and/or are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
The HHHS Emergency Departments in Haliburton and Minden cannot and do not have capacity to perform PCR confirmation of positive rapid tests or for return to work testing. Eligible community members should call the Haliburton County COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre for a non-urgent appointment at 705-457-1212 (press #6).
It is also important to note that because testing capacity is limited, reported case counts for COVID-19 are underestimating the true number of cases in our community. Our community was already seeing a significant spike in cases before PCR testing criteria was limited and given how easily the Omicron variant is transmitted between people, taking precautions is more important than ever.
Staffing at HHHS
Like many healthcare organizations across Ontario, staffing remains a significant challenge. Recently, major urban hospitals, like William Osler Health Systems in the GTA, have seen demand for services outpace available staffing and another hospital in our region, Campbellford Memorial Hospital had to close their Emergency Department overnight on December 24th as a result of insufficient staffing.
As the spread of the virus increases in our community, more and more of our staff are having to isolate, which is further increasing the pressure on our staffing issues. Since December 25, 2021, 8% of our staff have had to isolate as a result of public health and Ministry of Health guidance.
HHHS continues to do all it can to ensure there are sufficient staffing numbers to maintain our programs and services, including working with Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health, bringing agency staffing support to HHHS, and recruiting new staff members to the HHHS team. We also continue to do all we can to support the health and wellbeing of our incredible staff team.
NEW - Accessing HHHS
As a result of increased community spread of COVID-19, HHHS has decided to temporarily pause public access to both our Business Office and the HHHS Foundation Office. If you have a bill to pay or a donation you wish to make, we ask that you please contact the offices at the phone number listed below.
Pay a Bill / Contact the HHHS Business Office: 705-457-1392, ext. 0
Make a Donation / Contact the HHHS Foundation Office: 705-457-1580
As well, as a reminder, if you plan to visit any HHHS facility (whether the Emergency Departments, Acute Care, or Long-Term Care), you will be required to wear a medical mask upon entry (supplied at the screening desks) and will be actively screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
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I know this is another long update, but I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read it and understand what is happening at HHHS this week. HHHS will continue to communicate regularly through this wave, and we thank everyone for taking precautions to keep themselves, their families, and our community safe.
Take care,
Carolyn Plummer
President & CEO
As the situation in the healthcare sector continues to change rapidly, we want to keep you up to date on what is happening at HHHS and how you can help us all stay safe.
---
Public Health Measures – More Important Than Ever
As we are now starting to see the impact of the Omicron with rising hospitalizations across Ontario, I can’t stress enough the importance of taking all precautions possible to keep yourself, your family, and our community safe.
By now, you know the importance of wearing masks in public spaces, physical/social distancing, reducing your contact with people outside your household, and diligent hand washing. If you have been doing that all along – thank you and keep it up! If not – now is a great time to start.
I also want to emphasize the importance of vaccinations against COVID-19, and particularly booster doses. Data continues to show that vaccinations help protect against severe illness and the need to be hospitalized or admitted into ICU wards. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself. The HKPR District Health Unit, along with dedicated staff and community volunteers, have been working hard to create more appointments in our community. Visit covid-19.ontario.ca to book your appointment today.
What To Do If You Think You May Have COVID-19
If you suspect you may have COVID-19 because you are experiencing one or more symptoms, have received a positive result on a rapid antigen test, have been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected positive case, or are a household contact with someone who has symptoms, public health guidance now directs that you self-isolate.
Specific guidance about how long to isolate and other steps to take are available on the HKPR District Health Unit website at www.hkpr.on.ca or at Ontario.ca/exposed.
Testing for COVID-19
At this time, the Ontario government is asking members of the general public who suspect they have COVID-19 to not seek PCR testing, as there is limited capacity. Testing is now limited to high-risk individuals who are symptomatic and/or are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
The HHHS Emergency Departments in Haliburton and Minden cannot and do not have capacity to perform PCR confirmation of positive rapid tests or for return to work testing. Eligible community members should call the Haliburton County COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre for a non-urgent appointment at 705-457-1212 (press #6).
It is also important to note that because testing capacity is limited, reported case counts for COVID-19 are underestimating the true number of cases in our community. Our community was already seeing a significant spike in cases before PCR testing criteria was limited and given how easily the Omicron variant is transmitted between people, taking precautions is more important than ever.
Staffing at HHHS
Like many healthcare organizations across Ontario, staffing remains a significant challenge. Recently, major urban hospitals, like William Osler Health Systems in the GTA, have seen demand for services outpace available staffing and another hospital in our region, Campbellford Memorial Hospital had to close their Emergency Department overnight on December 24th as a result of insufficient staffing.
As the spread of the virus increases in our community, more and more of our staff are having to isolate, which is further increasing the pressure on our staffing issues. Since December 25, 2021, 8% of our staff have had to isolate as a result of public health and Ministry of Health guidance.
HHHS continues to do all it can to ensure there are sufficient staffing numbers to maintain our programs and services, including working with Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health, bringing agency staffing support to HHHS, and recruiting new staff members to the HHHS team. We also continue to do all we can to support the health and wellbeing of our incredible staff team.
NEW - Accessing HHHS
As a result of increased community spread of COVID-19, HHHS has decided to temporarily pause public access to both our Business Office and the HHHS Foundation Office. If you have a bill to pay or a donation you wish to make, we ask that you please contact the offices at the phone number listed below.
Pay a Bill / Contact the HHHS Business Office: 705-457-1392, ext. 0
Make a Donation / Contact the HHHS Foundation Office: 705-457-1580
As well, as a reminder, if you plan to visit any HHHS facility (whether the Emergency Departments, Acute Care, or Long-Term Care), you will be required to wear a medical mask upon entry (supplied at the screening desks) and will be actively screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
---
I know this is another long update, but I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read it and understand what is happening at HHHS this week. HHHS will continue to communicate regularly through this wave, and we thank everyone for taking precautions to keep themselves, their families, and our community safe.
Take care,
Carolyn Plummer
President & CEO