COVID-19 absences of Health P.E.I. staff doubled over two weeks

Twice as lots of P.E.I.’s health-care staff have been absent from work this weekend as a consequence of COVID-19, in comparison with the Canada Day weekend, well being officers have confirmed.

In the meantime, the province’s performing chief public well being officer is warning the province is seeing an upsurge in circumstances pushed by a subvariant of Omicron.

In an interview on July 11, Well being P.E.I. Dr. CEO Michael Gardam confirmed that, as of July 8, there have been 54 employees absent as a consequence of a optimistic COVID-19 check. Over the Canada Day weekend, 27 employees have been absent after testing optimistic.

“We’re OK, however we’re not OK. That is no strategy to run a health-care system.”

– Well being P.E.I. CEO Michael Gardam

On prime of this, 21 health-care staff are at present conducting work-isolation, that means they’re nonetheless asymptomatic and dealing regardless of being recognized as a detailed contact of another person who examined optimistic. Over the Canada Day weekend, that quantity was 11.

“We’re seeing this throughout the entire nation the place, positively COVID circumstances are on the rise with BA.5. However we do not know the place that is going to go,” Gardam mentioned.

“We’re OK, however we’re not OK. That is no strategy to run a health-care system.”

Gardam added the absences have been concentrated within the QEH emergency room earlier this month. As of July 8, they have been extra unfold out throughout the health-care system.

The newest COVID-19 upsurge comes at a time of vulnerability for P.E.I.’s health-care system.

Impending retirements of medical doctors and nurses have been already anticipated to take a toll years earlier than the pandemic. However two years of COVID-19 have additionally produced strains on health-care employees whose workplaces are always short-handed.

“We have had that occurring right here for years. Then, plunk, the summer season, the primary summer season the place we’ve not had restrictions. After which, plunk, growing COVID circumstances on prime of that. Add on prime of that two years of frustration and burn-out and drained individuals,” Gardam mentioned.

“It is simply this mixture of a number of issues which might be hitting us this summer season.”

Gardam mentioned Islanders ought to count on to attend within the emergency division this summer season. He additionally urged Islanders to “get your rattling boosters” of the COVID-19 vaccine.

P.E.I. COVID-19 vaccination and case information as of July 5

• 153 common day by day circumstances
• 10 hospitalizations
• 43 per cent check positivity
• 95 per cent of Islanders 12+ have acquired two doses of vaccine
• 57 per cent of Islanders 12+ have acquired three doses of vaccine
• 55 per cent of youngsters aged 5-11 have acquired two doses of vaccine

Supply: P.E.I. CPHO, July 5, 2022

Restrictions as a consequence of drop

P.E.I.’s final remaining public well being restrictions are as a consequence of be dropped on July 14.

These restrictions at present embrace a required seven-day interval of isolation for people who check optimistic, in addition to a masks mandate inside long-term care houses and hospitals.

However in an interview on July 11, P.E.I.’s performing chief public well being officer, Dr. Eilish Cleary, mentioned she was involved concerning the upsurge P.E.I. has been seeing since mid-June.

“Once we see this upsurge, we won’t be complacent about it. We’ve to acknowledge that the pandemic shouldn’t be over. And other people do not essentially need to hear that for the time being,” Cleary mentioned.

Division of Well being employees mentioned chief public well being officer Dr. Heather Morrison is at present absent however supplied no particulars on why or when Morrison will return.

Cleary mentioned her workplace has not totally confirmed whether or not the rise in circumstances on P.E.I is because of both the BA.4 or BA.5 sub-variant. However she mentioned the workplace is “engaged on the belief that that is the case.”

Cleary additionally hinted the province could delay dropping the seven-day isolation requirement for individuals who check optimistic however stopped wanting saying definitively whether or not this might happen.

“At this time limit, I really see little or no motive to not lengthen it. However that call hasn’t been made,” Cleary mentioned.

“I have never really had that dialog but with others. I do not wish to pre-judge the end result of the dialogue earlier than I’ve had it.”

Cleary urged Islanders to remain dwelling when they’re feeling sick, to put on masks in indoor settings and to get their third or fourth doses of vaccine doses.

Whereas virtually 95 per cent of Islanders older than 12 acquired two doses of the vaccine, solely 57 per cent have obtained a booster dose.

The Chief Public Well being Workplace recommends a booster dose for adults six months after finishing their preliminary two doses and a second six months after that.

“Vaccination is, in fact, a very powerful method that we are able to forestall towards fewer illness,” Cleary mentioned.

“With the brand new strains, we acknowledge that it would not fully forestall towards an infection. Nevertheless it nonetheless does forestall towards hospitalizations.”