Local healthcare partners are preparing for high volumes as respiratory illness season fast approaches.
Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC), Essex-Windsor EMS (EMS), Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) and Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) are working to share resources as capacity issues arise.
Hospitals are often running at above 100 per cent capacity as the respiratory illness season peaks, but the hospitals say they are already running at 120 per cent capacity.
Additional beds have already been opened to manage the increased demand.
However, health care professionals are asking residents to make the right call when dealing with an illness in the family. For non-emergency situations, the public is encouraged to call 811, go to a walk-in clinic, or make an appointment with their family doctor.
WRH has also reimplemented a masking policy for all employees, professional staff, and volunteers. They must wear masks within two metres of a patient to help prevent the spread of disease. Visitors are also encouraged to wear a mask.
