Surgeries will be ramping up at Niagara Health, following the lowest inpatient activity at area hospitals since early April, the hospital system announced on Wednesday afternoon.
“Thankfully, positive cases of COVID-19 continue to trend downward,” said Lynn Guerriero, President and Interim CEO at Niagara Health in a statement on Wednesday.
“All in all, we are in a good position to gradually lift emergency measures that have been in place to respond to the high COVID-19 activity in the hospital.”
As of June 9, Niagara Health reported 25 patients in the hospital with COVID-19, compared to up to 89 at the height of the third wave.
Niagara Health now counts on being at approximately 70 percent capacity with surgical procedures by the end of next week.
Inpatient non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures will be reintroduced in the direction of the province.
The hospital systems' ICU capacity is at 107 percent, with several patients from the GTA, enabling staff deployed to the ICU to be rerouted to their ordinary positions in a phased approach.
While no changes have been made to visitor restrictions, Essential Care and Support Persons are allowed.
“The demands and stresses on our staff, physicians, and the community have been significant, especially during the third wave,” says Dr. Johan Viljoen, Chief of Staff at Niagara Health.
“We’d like to acknowledge the hard work and compassion of our staff and physicians during this uniquely challenging time as well as the support and commitment from the community by following public health measures and getting vaccinated.”
Almost 61.5 percent of Niagara residents have been vaccinated.
