File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

RESPIRATORY ILLNESS

Interior Health hospital emergency operation centres reopen amid triple-threat of respiratory illnesses

Jan 9, 2023 | 4:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — On Friday (Jan. 6), B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the province will reopen 20 hospital emergency operations centres. Dix stated B.C. has been coping with an unprecedented increase in demand in the health-care system. The 20 centres opened Monday to ensure people have continued access to hospital care and will allow for a coordinated response during periods of additional pressures on hospitals.

The centres were originally established to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic, but will be focused on the overall respiratory illness season.

Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton said the province is being hit by a triple threat this year headlined by RSV, influenza and COVID-19.

“For that reason, we need to take all of the same precautions that we have be practicing for the last three years. Wearing a mask when you are in a crowded public place, staying home when you are sick — really, really important. Practicing good respiratory hygiene, coughing and sneezing into your elbow,” said Fenton.

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The emergency centres will be in place for at least the next six weeks. During that time, health officials will review hospital bed availability and work to identify solutions to the overcrowding of emergency rooms.

“We are having a really busy respiratory season. We are seeing that in terms of the number of people going to hospital. We are also seeing a number of outbreaks in our long-term care and communal living facilities, and we are seeing a lot of mixed picture situations, where within any one group of people we will see a number of COVID infections, a couple of influenza infections and we may some others,” said Fenton.

Over the weekend, Royal Inland Hospital was at 116 per cent occupancy.

“The respiratory virus season is expected to continue through the coming weeks and, as a precautionary measure, Interior Health will be part of the provincial emergency operations centre. The EOC will have dedicated leadership and capacity to work with and support all health authorities with a primary focus of improving capacity challenges in hospitals,” said Interim Director of Communications for Interior Health South Karl Hardt.