Ontario hospitals to ramp down elective surgeries amid increasing COVID-19 hospitalizations

Ontario hospitals will begin ramping down elective surgeries and non-urgent activities amid a rise on COVID-19 hospitalizations.

President of the Ontario Hospital Association, Anthony Dale, tweeted the news late Thursday night.

“Effective April 12th, hospitals have been directed to ramp down all elective surgeries & non-emergent/non-urgent activities. A major redeployment of staff and resources is required to provide care for a large wave of COVID patients requiring hospitalization,” he said.

The new directive begins on Monday and will be in place everywhere except northern Ontario.

This situation is extraordinarily serious and we ask for patience and support from the people of Ontario as hospitals grapple with this historic crisis. Ensuring equitable access to critical care services is our paramount priority.

— Anthony Dale (@AnthonyDaleOHA) April 9, 2021

The provincial health agency is also warning hospitals that they may be asked to send staff to harder-hit areas.

On Thursday, the province reported 1,417 patients in hospital with COVID-19 and 525 patients in ICU.

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