Community Update – January 14, 2022

Situation Report

Friday, January 14, 2022

Vitalité Health Network is providing this situation report in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current challenges facing the health care system. This report will be updated as needed, as the situation changes.

Red level at Vitalité Health Network and phase 3 in the province

Although the province is moving to phase 3 of the COVID-19 Winter Plan today at 11:59 p.m., Vitalité Health Network remains under the red level at this time.

During the red level, service levels are adjusted based on the epidemiology and local conditions in terms of human resources within facilities. Check the Network's website and social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter) often for the most recent updates.

Essential services

Our top priority is to maintain services essential to the public by redeploying staff to critical sectors, such as:

• intensive care units,
• emergency departments;
• COVID-19 units,
• COVID-19 vaccination and testing.

As we face the fifth wave of the pandemic, the Network is working at maintaining the health care system in place for New Brunswickers. We understand that this period can be worrisome. The Network is committed to communicating proactively with the public as often as necessary.

Unaffected care and services

• Patient appointments
  Patients who have an appointment may present for their appointment at the scheduled date and time. The Network will contact the patients whose appointment must be postponed.
• Inpatients, emergency departments
  Inpatient care and services are maintained in all hospitals, and all emergency departments are open.
• Oncology and hemodialysis services
  Services are maintained.
• Mental health and addiction services
  Services are maintained.

Areas/services affected by service reductions

• Non-urgent (elective) surgeries
• Ambulatory care services
• Community health centres, health centres and medical clinics
• Medical imaging services (x-rays, scans, etc.)
• Professional services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, nutrition, respiratory therapy, etc.)
• Phlebotomy (blood sampling): patients are asked to only come in when their bloodwork cannot wait or if they have a scheduled appointment.

Ban on visits remains in effect

General visits remain suspended in all Network hospitals.

Visits by designated support persons (DSP) are also suspended, temporarily, at the Edmundston Regional Hospital and on several other hospital units due to potential exposures to the COVID-19 virus or outbreaks. Check the full list on our website.

The Network acknowledges that these restrictions are difficult for patients and families. They are in place to ensure the safety of patients, DSPs and health care workers. Whenever possible, the Network encourages people to use technology to stay in contact with their hospitalized loved ones.

Vaccination clinics

The Network is encouraging people to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or to get their booster. The schedule and locations of our vaccination clinics are posted on the Network's website and are updated regularly.

COVID-19 screening

Laboratory tests (PCR) are reserved for people in the following priority groups:

• health care workers and people who live or work in long-term care facilities, homeless shelters and correctional facilities;
• people who are symptomatic and aged 50 and over;
• people who are symptomatic and immunocompromised or pregnant;
• people who need a PCR test for travel;
• First Nations members, and
• people who are identified as a priority by Public Health.

Rapid-test kits are reserved for symptomatic persons who are under 50 years old and do not belong to one of the above-mentioned priority groups.

Persons who test positive with a rapid test must document their positive test result and follow the guidelines for positive cases, which are accessible online on the provincial government's website.

You must register on the provincial government site to book an appointment for a laboratory test (PCR) or to obtain a rapid-test kit.

Statistics

(As of January 14, 2022)

For up-to-date information, please visit the Network's website or follow us on our social media platforms.

Thank you for your cooperation with our various measures, which are necessary to protect the safety of our patients, staff, physicians and communities.