More COVID-19 hospitalizations could mean cancelled elective surgeries, warns B.C.’s top doctor
Posted September 28, 2020 6:38 pm.
Last Updated September 28, 2020 6:39 pm.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — If B.C.’s COVID-19 curve doesn’t flatten again soon, expect elective surgeries to start getting cancelled, warns the province’s top doctor.
During Monday’s COVID-19 briefing, Dr. Bonnie Henry admits she is worried 69 patients are now hospitalized, including the 22 in critical care. This came as she offered assurances no outbreaks have been recorded in schools, yet.
“We need to pay attention to it because the more people end up in hospital, the more risk we have to others who are going into hospitals, our surgical restart which is going full-blast right now and the risk we have to our communities.”
Re: more people ending up in hospital, Henry was “we do need to flatten our curve” because if numbers keep climbing, we may have to start cancelling surgeries again.
Rate is not as bad now because it’s about 6% of people testing positive compared to 20% in the spring. @NEWS1130— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) September 28, 2020
Henry said with 22 of the 69 patients in critical care, services and resources are not being stretched.
“But we need to all pay attention to that. We do need to flatten our curve and that will bring our hospitalizations down over time, as well. Those are the key things we need to focus on.”
