THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is adjusting its pandemic response measures as a result of a steep decline in the incidence of COVID-19 in Northwestern Ontario, combined with rising vaccination numbers.
As of Monday, the hospital only has one patient who has tested positive for the virus, and this individual is from outside the District of Thunder Bay.
TBRHSC announced that it has moved its internal pandemic response level from Orange (Restrict) to Yellow (Protect).
This means fewer restrictions on learners, volunteers and some external partners.
Most volunteers will gradually return to all areas of the hospital over the next several weeks.
Effective Tues. July 6 , the hospital will no longer ask visitors about travel outside Northwestern Ontario. In alignment with federal government changes to guidelines regarding travel outside Canada, the screening question will be changed to "Have you travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days? Answer NO if you have been cleared by OHS or ArriveCAN has exempted you from quarantine."
TBRHSC also announced that it has terminated its Virtual Emergency Department (ED) pilot.
Launched on Jan. 4, it offered same-day virtual assessments with ED physicians.
The program was available to people in Thunder Bay and surrounding area over 17 who had a non-life-threatening medical issue, and had no timely access to a primary care provider.
According to the hospital, 815 virtual appointments were completed during the six months the program operated.
It said patients gave the service a rating of nine out of ten.
There are currently only three active COVID-19 cases in the entire Thunder Bay district.
TBRHSC's overall occupancy stands at 79 per cent.
