Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre's COVID-19 Incident Manager, Dr. Stewart Kennedy, addresses media. (Photo Supplied)
The COVID-19 ward inside the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is busting at the seams, now beyond capacity.
As of Tuesday there are 22 total patients admitted for coronavirus, including six in the Intensive Care Unit as officials brace for what’s to come.
“The numbers are concerning,” says Dr. Stewart Kennedy. “This is the worst the pandemic has ever been in Thunder Bay and the only way we’re going to get out of this is through co-operation from citizens when it comes to following public health guidelines. This is a community problem, not just a hospital problem.”
When a patient comes in, the treatment options are different depending on any underlying conditions, but the doctor says commonly oxygen and a steroid medication are used to help treat patients with COVID-19.
Kennedy says any patient that has COVID-19 resolved is released through a tiered process back into the community.
“There’s follow up with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and also the patient’s primary caregiver, if they have one. If someone doesn’t have that then they’re sent to our medical transitional clinic.”
You can listen to the full interview below.
