Community Update – October 29, 2021

Situation Report

Friday, October 29, 2021

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

Strike action by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

Several groups of workers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) went on strike this morning. For the moment, Network health care workers are not affected by the current walkout. The strike could still have some indirect impacts on the regular operations of our facilities and services. If this happens, the Network will notify the public of any changes.

Care and services: transition to orange alert level

Network hospitals and facilities will transition to the orange alert level on Monday, November 1, 2021. This will enable the Network to continue increasing its service levels, which it had begun under the red alert level over the past week. This will be in place for at least one week and will be reassessed at this time. Should our CUPE health care workers go on strike, the Network could have to quickly change its alert level. We are monitoring the situation very closely.

The decreasing number of new and active COVID-19 cases in the province and of hospitalized patients, including ICU admissions, make it possible to transition to the orange alert level. The continued increase in the vaccination rate of the Network's health care workers was also a consideration. On the other hand, the situation with human resources is stable, but it remains precarious in several sectors and facilities.

Transitioning to the orange alert level means that the Network believes it has the capacity to increase ambulatory care, medical imaging, and surgical services. Activity levels for these services could vary depending on the various facilities and specific local situations. The Network’s objective is always to provide the public with the highest possible service level based on the circumstances.

Additionally, the Network could have to quickly review its alert level in the event of a strike by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which would have direct or indirect impacts on its regular activities.

Ban on visits: maintained for everyone’s safety

Visits are currently prohibited in all Network hospitals and will remain that way under the orange alert level. This precaution is necessary to ensure the safety of patients, employees and doctors in a context where there are active outbreaks in some hospitals and several communities are dealing with community transmission.

Exceptions apply for patients who are eligible for a designated support person. Please visit the Network’s website for more information.

All patients and support persons will continue to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and asked a series of questions upon entry to our facilities.

Distribution of rapid-test kits: close to our communities

The Network has sixteen COVID-19 rapid-test kit pick-up locations across its territory. The kits are for anyone two years of age or older who does not have any symptoms and who is not a close contact of a confirmed case. Each kit contains five tests to be used over a ten-day period.

If your rapid test result is positive, you must register online on the government's website or call 811 for a lab test. Rapid tests are very helpful in slowing the spread of COVID-19, but they only reflect your health status at the time of testing.

Those who are 16 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult to obtain a test kit. Please visit the Network’s website for the pick-up location nearest you and opening hours.

One kit per person; quantities are limited based on daily supplies available. First come, first served.

Statistics

(As of October 29, 2021)

Vaccination rates of health care workers

Vaccination rates of Network health care workers have increased considerably over the past weeks. The Network would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you. The work is continuing with all our employees and our physicians to increase vaccination rates by November 19, 2021.

Network Overview

Percentage of fully vaccinated health care workers by facility

(As of October 25, 2021)

Please visit www.vitalitenb.ca and follow us on our social media platform for current information.

Thank you for your cooperation while we protect the safety of our patients, clients, employees and communities.