Hub Staff

A Virtual Town Hall, hosted by Bruce Power, aimed to address the COVID-19 pandemic with health officials from Bruce and Grey county, took place on Thursday evening, March 19. Hundreds of residents listened in and were given the opportunity to direct questions to leaders within the Grey Bruce public healthcare system.

Bruce Power Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Operational Services James Scongack introduced the participants and stressed the intention of the meeting was to support the local healthcare system by giving them the opportunity to inform the public on how we as a community should be reacting to the virus.

Also listening in were elected officials, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Bill Walker, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff, Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb and municipal mayors from across the region.

Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Grey Bruce Dr Ian Arra began the call with some facts about COVID-19. ”Eighty-five percent of those infected will have a mild cold or less,“ reported Arra. “The risk in Grey Bruce compared to other areas in Ontario is lower at this point,” he said.

On the other hand, 15 percent of people infected will suffer from more severe diseases, such as pneumonia, and statistics show that two percent will die as a result, stated Arra. "That’s not a small number in Grey Bruce if we do the math,” he said.

"These viruses don’t have legs or wings, they don’t move,” said Arra. “They transmit through touching items that are already exposed."

Dr Arra attested that through containment and medication, the local healthcare system has worked to flatten the curve in Grey Bruce and encouraged individuals to use the online self assessment at www.ontario.ca/coronavirus or contact TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 before visiting an assessment centre.

South Bruce Grey Health Centre President and CEO Michael Barrett described the provincial and regional actions that have been implemented to deal with the virus. Barrett noted daily meetings between the 19 hospitals across the two counties in order to maintain an efficient flow of patients between sites as their symptoms develop. “We need to make sure that the large hospitals have the capacity for the most critically ill and our small community hospitals can bring patients back closer to home, freeing up spaces in the larger hospitals,” explained Barrett.

Barrett also mentioned a close engagement with long-term care facilities to monitor those most at risk.

Dana Howes, President and CEO of the Hanover and District Hospital illustrated the precautions that have been enforced across the three hospital corporations in Grey Bruce. These precautions include screening all incoming patients and staff for respiratory symptoms and travel history, a no-visitor policy, postponement of all elective surgeries and relocation of out-patient clinics. Howes also described the redesign of their emergency and waiting rooms to isolate patients with respiratory symptoms.

Gary Sims, President and CEO of Grey Bruce Health Services elaborated on the three assessment centres in Grey Bruce which are located in the Owen Sound, Hanover and Kincardine hospitals. “If you have symptoms, fever, cough, difficulty breathing and are struggling at home, come to an assessment centre,” said Sims. “If you have mild symptoms and you can manage at home, please stay home. Self isolate. Do not come to an assessment centre,” Sims requested.

Sims also directed listeners www.ontario.ca/coronavirus to help with self assessment and management at home. Sims distinguished the three centres as screening centres, not testing centres. The majority of individuals who visit the assessment centres will not be tested for coronavirus and will return home to continue self-care and self-isolation.

Responding to a question of why communities within Grey Bruce with confirmed cases were not being identified to the public, Dr Arra responded explaining that when a patient has tested positive for the coronavirus, procedures are followed to identify anyone who they have been in contact with who could also be at risk and who they contracted if from. Arra stated that anyone at risk due to a confirmed case would be contacted by Public Health. Furthermore, knowledge of the whereabouts of positive cases in Grey Bruce would not change individual risk level.

Dr Arra also argued that in order to prevent community spread, the precautionary measures individuals take by hand washing and sanitizing should not be influenced by where the cases are within the community. “I would worry about the cases that we don’t find, not the cases that we have found,” said Arra.

Sims explained the province evaluated which locations had sufficient resources when determining where the assessment centres would operate. He also expressed his belief that more centres would continue to open. Barrett made it clear that no matter the location, these centres help the healthcare system across Grey Bruce by alleviating pressures on the hospitals and emergency departments.

A question from a listener about restricting social activities was addressed by Dr Arra who advised that while social interaction is still important, it should be done by practicing adequate safety measures including social distancing, not attending if you are sick, and always washing your hands.

Another questioner expressed concerns that not all returning travellers are self-isolating as recommended. “Even if other people are not following the guidance provided by public officials, you can maintain your own social distancing from other individuals to protect yourself and encourage your family members and loved ones to do the same thing,” he directed.

Barrett suggested that people reach out to healthcare providers and offer help with daycare and other services that will ensure these vital individuals can continue to provide the 24-hour operation of our local hospitals.

Dr Sunil Mehta, Chief of Emergency Medicine, Owen Sound Hospital, Grey Bruce Health Services, cautioned listeners to not overreact to mild symptoms or rush out to hospitals or assessment centres. “You can proactively take those steps [self-isolation] and avoid exposing yourself to other people who are actually more sick and potentially getting sicker as a result of that in an emergency department.”

Dr Arra reiterated the severity of the virus on the aging population and urged listeners not to visit long-term care centres or nursing homes and advised older adults at home to stay isolated.

In closing, Sims requested listeners to heed the guidance of the professionals. “These are serious times. It’s not a time for panic, it’s a time for people to come together and listen to their public officials,” he said. “I ask of the community to honour their hard work, listen to their words and every day understand that these people are your community, they live in your community... they feel your pain, they feel the challenges ahead of them and they’re working hard everyday,” reminded Sims.

To listen to Virtual Town Hall in full, visit brucepower.com/2020/03/19/covid-19-virtual-town-hall.

Grey Bruce Health Services COVID-19 Assessment Centres:

Owen Sound Hospital, 12pm to 8pm, 7 days a week

Kincardine Hospital, 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week

Hanover and District Hospital, 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday