Health Sciences North freeing up beds for imminent COVID-19 surge

Health Sciences North says it is freeing up critical care beds in anticipation of a surge of patients with COVID-19.

The first patient with a confirmed case was admitted to the Sudbury hospital Wednesday, and according to officials is in stable condition, in isolation.

HSN president Dominic Giroux said thanks to the elimination of elective surgeries, the hospital is now operating at about two-thirds capacity.

"Since we're operating two hundred fewer beds than March 5, we have some flexibility in this regard," GIroux said.

"What we've been doing is reviewing the qualifications of our staff to see who can be redeployed from non-critical care areas to the expanded critical care program."

Patients in hospital awaiting home care or a long-term care placement will move to the Clarion Hotel starting Monday, Giroux added.

He said the plan allows for the critical care beds to increase from 28 to over 100 with 62 ventilators.

Giroux adds that a backlog of testing at the assessment centre in Sudbury should be eliminated by Monday.

According to Public Health Sudbury and Districts, there are currently 13 cases of COVID-19 in the area.