Windsor Regional Hospital receives 1st out-of-province COVID-19 patients

Two COVID-19 patients from Manitoba are now in the care of Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH), markingthe first time the hospital has accepted out-of-province patients during the pandemic.

Both of the patients are on ventilators in Windsor Regional Hospital's intensive care unit (ICU).

"Windsor Regional Hospital will continue to support our local and regional patients but also patient needs across Ontario and now Canada," a statement from the hospital reads.

The province of Manitoba reported 461 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. Shared Health, its health authority,said it has now moved 10 patients to Ontario hospitalsin aneffort to free up critical care space in its hospitals.

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WRH president and CEO David Musyj said the hospital is "one of a handful of Ontario hospitals with ICU capabilities being asked to support our fellow Canadians during Wave 3."

"We are grateful to our colleagues in Ontario for their partnership and support in the care of Manitobans with COVID-19," said a spokesperson for Shared Health.

It its statement, Shared Healthstated that just one patient had been transferred to WRH but the hospital told the CBC that another had been sent after the statement was released.

In addition to the two patients from Manitoba, WRH said that ithas accepted 87 COVID-19 patients over the past two months, nine of which remain at the facility as in-patients.

"Our team will continue to provide exceptional clinical care for patients from our region and Ontario and also those we are asked to support from across Canada," saidWRHchief of staff Dr. WassimSaad.