SLMHC remains prepared as first positive COVID-19 case confirmed in community

Sioux Lookout, ON – Earlier this week, the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Sioux Lookout. As the virus continues to emerge across the province, this news was not unexpected and we encourage all residents to follow the directives and recommendations put in place by the province of Ontario and our public health units.

At Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) our team has been preparing for potential COVID-19 cases through the implementation of our Pandemic Plan. For the past several weeks, the team at SLMHC has been preparing to ensure we are ready to safely care for the people we serve. We continue to place everyone’s health and safety as our utmost priority.

“We recognize that a confirmed case of COVID-19 may raise fear and anxiety among the communities we serve and we want to encourage you to stay informed with the most reliable information and resources,” says SLMHC’s President and CEO, Heather Lee, who adds that the Northwestern Health Unit’s website, www.nwhu.on.ca, is the recommended website for up-to-date information on COVID-19 in our region.

Visitor restrictions at our facilities remain in place for the safety of our patients, residents, staff and physicians, and we continue to ask for your cooperation during this time. We recognize that this is difficult for both patients and families, however we must remain vigilant in order to help stop the spread of the virus and save lives.

Creating more space at the hospital is also a high priority in our planning. This past week we have started the process of moving a number of hospital patients who are awaiting long-term care placement to temporary transitional spaces created at the W. A. “Bill” George Extended Care facility. We will continue to explore more opportunities for transitional space should the need arise.

We join with other health providers in our community and region to remind everyone to practice social distancing, proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. We also remind the public that all non-essential appointments have been postponed at the hospital.

If you experience COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath) or suspect you have the virus, call the Northwestern Health Unit’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-866-468-2240 or the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at 737-5880.

For more information about SLMHC’s COVID-19 response visit our website at www.slmhc.on.ca/covid19

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