November 17, 2022 at 2:42 pm
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the rise in the respiratory virus that has led to a spike in pediatric hospitalizations appears to be slowing, but only slightly.
Jones said the numbers could be a good sign, but she would not say the number of cases had plateaued.
“Many of these patients are related to RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). It’s a moving target, frankly. It goes up and down based on how much shed and how much it moves. It’s a data that is constantly changing and being monitored,” Jones said. Say.
Many of the province’s pediatric ICUs are overloaded, but Jones couldn’t put the numbers right.
Jones said while it was too early to say the surge had leveled off, she wanted to reassure parents that their children would get the care they needed.
“I want to reassure the people of Ontario that if your child becomes ill in Ontario, you will receive the health care you deserve and need in a timely manner,” she added. “I completely understand your pain and concern, but you have a Support your government. You have a government that supports investment in our hospital system.”
Earlier this week, the Department of Health’s chief medical officer, Dr Kieran Moore, urged people to wear masks indoors to help keep young children safe and out of hospital.
Jones announced Thursday that the Ontario government will invest more than $182 million this year to support critical upgrades and repairs at 131 hospitals and 65 community health facilities across the province.