The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is reporting the hospital is Chatham is not as full as it normally is this time of the year.
During a weekly media teleconference, CEO Lori Marshall said capacity is at 70 per cent, which is lower than the usual 90 to 100 per cent during this time of year when the flu season is in full bloom. Marshall said the reduced occupancy is a result of some services being intentionally reduced at the end of October, leading up to the launch of the new electronic health records system. Marshall also said the "wonderful" work done by the local home and community care agency and Riverview Gardens nursing home also led to 33 fewer patients who no longer needed treatment or hospital care and were occupying hospital beds waiting for another place to go.
"Some of our reduced occupancy is a result of that very intentional slowdown in services," said Marshall.
She added fewer flu cases in the area and fewer visits to the emergency department have also played a large role in an emptier hospital.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said the local COVID-19 numbers are trending down and he believes the region is heading back to a Green Level soon, which is standard and more relaxed COVID-19 measures than the current Yellow Protect Level in Chatham-Kent.
