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THE LATEST COVID-19 NEWS IN ONTARIO
Ontario’s rate of COVID-19 infections is showing some signs of improvement because of public health measures and vaccinations, said Dr. Barbara Yaffe, the associate chief medical officer of health, at a press conference Thursday.
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Try refreshing your browser. COVID-19: Rate of COVID infection is slowing; Vaccine bookings open to essential workers, those over age 50 Back to video
But she gave little hope that public health measures will be eased this month. The province remains under a stay-at-home-order until May 20.
“Given the number of cases is so high still, the number of hospitalizations and ICU overload, I would be surprised if things open up at the end of May,” said Yaffe. “They may open partially.
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Ottawa’s critical care nurses have been overworked, overburdened and overwhelmed during this pandemic, but thanks to some local Good Samaritans, they won’t be under-appreciated or under-fed.
As the pandemic’s third wave was hitting its crest in Ontario in late April, with COVID-19 raging through the community and with intensive care units stretched to capacity, friends Meaghan Lalande and Kirstin Graystone wanted to do something to support the people still fighting at the front line.
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Try refreshing your browser, or We really are so grateful : Fundraiser set to send meals to overworked hospital staff Back to video
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Dr. Michael Herman can’t get much closer to the front lines of pandemic health care than he already is. During every recent shift in the emergency department at Queensway Carleton Hospital, he has treated at least three or four COVID-positive patients, sometimes performing procedures with a high potential risk of spread.
And, while the emergency doctor uses full personal protective equipment, he does not have the same level of protection as many of his colleagues, even those who don’t see patients face-to-face: He has not received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
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When COVID-19 started a year ago in March, we were scared. We were told that our acute medicine floor for geriatrics at the Queensway Carleton Hospital would now be accepting patients of all ages and would be turned into the designated COVID-19 unit. Now, we hardly remember what ACE (Acute Care of the Elderly) was before it was turned into a COVID unit.
We knew nothing about this horrible illness. We did not know if it was going to be a normal flu, or if it was going to be much worse. No matter: we do not think anyone could have expected that, a year later, we are still battling this nasty illness. In many ways, it is much worse this time around than it was at the beginning.