Hospital chiefs of staff urge people to get vaccinated, continue wearing masks | Letters

This is a joint message from North Simcoe Muskoka (NSM) region’s hospital chiefs of staff and medical officer of health.

The level of COVID-19 in the NSM region is on the rise. The COVID-19 wastewater viral signal is increasing across the province including the areas surrounding all of our hospitals. In addition, test percent positivity across the region is high and increasing.

Hospitals are experiencing record levels of staff and physician absence due to illness and exposure to COVID at home, in schools, and in the community. Our providers and our patients are equally affected. We are concerned about everyone and the impact on our ability to provide timely care.

In keeping with the public statement of the medical officer of health, and in response to this situation, every hospital chief of staff and the medical officer of health in the NSM region are coming together to highly recommend the following four things that you can do right now to protect yourself, your family, and your community, with the goal of reducing severe illness and hospitalization:

1. Get vaccinated with all the doses you are eligible for.
2. Limit your close contacts.
3. Wear a mask in indoor public spaces.
4. If you are sick, stay home and get tested for COVID-19 with either a rapid antigen test at home or if eligible, a PCR test.

To book a vaccine, please visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website or visit COVID-19 vaccines for Ontario.

If you know or suspect you have COVID-19 there are multiple resources to help find your way to the right level of care. Visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website and use the Self Assessment Tool. Your local hospital website has area-specific COVID information. If you are in a higher-risk category you may be eligible for PCR testing and anti-viral therapy. Please check with your primary care provider for advice.

Thank you for doing what you can to help keep yourself and those around you safe during this time of uncertainty amid the rising levels of COVID-19.

North Simcoe Muskoka Hospital chiefs of staff:
Dr. Michael Lisi, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital
Dr. Vikram Ralhan, Georgian Bay General Hospital
Dr. Khaled Abdel-Razek, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare
Dr. Nancy Merrow, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital
Dr. Jeff Tyberg, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
Dr. Nadiya Sunderji, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health
Dr. Jaco Scheeres, Stevenson Memorial Hospital

Medical officer of health for Simcoe Muskoka
Dr. Charles Gardner, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

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